Thu, 28 Oct, 2021
Dubai: Al Ain and Al Ahli will go into the second leg of their all-United Arab Emirates clash in the Round of 16 in the 2015 AFC Champions League with nothing between them after the teams shared a scoreless draw in the first leg at Al Rashid Stadium in Dubai on Wednesday.
Neither team was capable of carving out an advantage in a keenly contested match-up and they will meet again in Al Ain next Wednesday with a place in the last eight of the continental club championship still on the line.
Al Ain will have home field advantage in the second leg but with Al Ahli avoiding conceding at home, coach Cosmin Olaroiu will be confident his side can do enough to advance in seven days’ time.
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Video highlights
It was the Romanian coach’s team who shaded the first leg, having the better of the opening quarter of an hour and generally on top throughout. Habib Al Fardan tried his luck from the edge of the area in the ninth minute, only to lean back when striking the ball to send his attempt well over the bar.
Ten minutes later, Majed Hassan burst through the midfield before laying the ball off to Everton Ribeiro, whose return pass to Hassan set the midfielder up for an attempt on goal, but Al Ain goalkeeper Khalid Eisa was equal to the task.
Eventually Al Ain were roused and, midway through the half, Omar Abdulrahman’s lofted pass into the middle was met by Ibrahim Daiky with a spectacular volley, only for Ahmed Ashoori to palm the ball to safety.
On the half hour mark, Al Ain again threatened, this time through Asamoah Gyan, the top scorer in last year’s competition, but the Ghanaian striker’s effort was blocked by Ashoori’s legs.
There continued to be little between the teams in the second half as Al Ahli carved out the marginally better opportunities, but neither side was able to find the back of the net.
Everton Ribeiro set his sights on goal in the 63rd minute from outside the area only for Khalid Eisa to make a comfortable save while, at the other end, Jires Kembo-Ekoko did little to trouble Ashoori with his attempt at goal.
With 16 minutes remaining, Al Ahli produced the best moment of the game when, after the Al Ain defence panicked and failed to clear after Everton Ribeiro’s centre from the left, Ismail Al Hammadi’s left foot shot beat Eisa only to clip the top of the crossbar on its way over.
Photo: WSG