GOALLESS AFFAIR
The first leg of the 2017 AFC Champions League quarterfinal between Al Ain and Al Hilal was a fiery affair sans goals. The Saudi side will be happy escaping with a crucial draw from the Hazza bin Zayed Stadium on Monday night. At the end, Al Ain were down to 10 men in a high-intensity match that saw keepers emerge as real heroes.
It was a fiery start to proceedings. Usual suspects Omar Abdulrahman, Caio and visitors’ hope Omar Khribin, Carlos Eduardo maintained pressure at either ends. Keepers Khalid Eisa and Abdullah Al Mayouf fended off a host of challenges. However, in the 11th minute threatening Syrian striker Khribin netted past Eisa but was ruled offside. Played at a great tempo, the game was equally physical too. Al Ain defender Khaled Abdulrahman was the first to be booked. Just like his players, Al Hilal coach Ramon Diaz was a busy body in the touchline and kept urging referees for more bookings. In sharp contrast, Al Ain coach Zoran Mamic was perfectly poised.
By the 16th minute Al Ain’s Swedish star Marcus Berg marked his presence with a back heel and rampaging run but was tackled by goalkeeper Al Mayouf. In the 24th minute, Dyanfres Douglas booted in an Omar delivery but was ruled offside.
Attacks continued to flow at either ends. Forays through Omar, Berg, Douglas, Caio and Mohamed Abdulrahman were delightful to watch and equally matched by Al Hilal’s Matias Britos, Khribin and Eduardo. Both the keepers, to their credit, negated each attack with ease to keep it goalless at break.
There was nothing to choose between both the sides with shared possessions and visitors having five shots on target to one from Al Ain.
The second half saw more intent from both sides. And two minutes after the breather, Omar taunted the Al Hilal defence with his cheeky free kick but Caio failed with final flourish. It wasn’t just attacking but beautiful football on display.
Bandar Al Ahbabi replaced Khaled in the first of the changes made by Mamic. A mini drama unfolded as Abdullah Al Hafith and Salman Al Faraj earned bookings following a rough tackle on Omar.
What followed was an Omar special. Right at the stroke of an hour, Amoory shot a goal-bound free-kick, which was kept out by a full-stretched Al Mayouf.
Al Ain kept pressure with more attacks and Hazza bin Zayed Stadium was beaming.
But soon Al Ain were hit in the knuckles as defender Salem was booked a second time. He was penalised for a debatable sliding challenge on Al Faraj. Soon, Mamic replaced Berg with Ismail Ahmed to boost the defence. Both sides aggressively pushed for a winner. Nasty challenges rose and fans kept egging their heroes, who gave every sinew of their body.
With five minutes left keeper Al Mayouf made a top-class save.