AL AIN ROUT TUNIS, ENTER CLUB WORLD CUP SEMIS
Al Ain entered the semifinal of the Fifa Club World Cup UAE 2018 by pounding Esperance Sportive de Tunis, the CAF Champions League winner, 3-0 in the second round match at the iconic Hazza bin Zayed Stadium. Al Ain ‘Boss’ will now meet the much-fancied Copa Libertadores champs River Plate at the same venue on Tuesday.
On Saturday evening, the all-Arab match saw an electrifying atmosphere as Ainawis in purple and white, and Esperance fans in red and yellow turned Hazza bin Zayed Stadium into an inferno.
Al Ain midfielder Hussein Elshahat set the tone of the extravaganza with a first-minute attempt inside the Tunisian box that crashed onto the post. The persistent pressure led to a corner. And in second minute, defender Mohamed Ahmad headed home from Rayan Yaslem’s sharp delivery to make it 1-0. The 29-year-old has scored four times for Al Ain but surely nothing compared to such an occasion and magnitude of reward. Coach Zoran Mamic was ecstatic with the early goal and the stadium rocked.
Immediately, Tunisian side showed intent with star performer Anice Badri’s close attempt on goal. But Al Ain backline was ready for such kind of assault.
Al Ain defenders had certainly learnt from mistakes of the first round match as Esperance’s first corner saw defenders and keeper Khalid Eisa secure goal posts and mark each attacker. Al Ain players played with great intensity and the relentless pursuit for goals led to another gem. Caio and Yaslem combined and rolled out a pass down the left to Elshahat. Just when it felt the Egyptian midfielder had taken few second more to shoot, he let fly a darting shot past four Tunisians and keeper keeper Moez Ben Cherifa.
In 16 minutes, Al Ain led 2-0 over the famed CAF Champions League winners who had beaten none other than the ‘Club of the Century’ Al Ahly to reach here.
The second goal saw Esperance go on an all-out offensive. Attacks flowed but Al Ain back four remained resolute. Al Ain skipper Ismail Ahmed put his body on the line to block midfielder Ghaylen Chaaleli’s goalbound missile. Immediately Ismail fell down gasping for breath but was back in service next minute.
Al Ain players were prepared not just physically but mentally too for the grand stage match. Al Ain also enjoyed rub of green as Mohammed Belaili almost perfect lob into the goal hit the bar and went out.
Al Ain defenders easily succeeded in dispossessing Tunisian strikers and blunting each move into the box. They were more than match to each tackle and body blows.
And in 60 minutes, Bandar Al Ababi made it 3-0 after Caio slipped in a sublime pass from the left flank. The Emirati winger thumped his thighs in celebration amid deafening noise in the stadium. Mohamed Abdulrahman, who was out with suspension, joined the party from stands.
Al Ain and Kashima Antlers capped an evening in which Middle East and Asian teams stood tall against much fancied names of continental football. Watch out River Plate and Real Madrid.