Al Ain and Al Ahli – ever each other’s equals – play to draw in Arabian Gulf League rivalry match

Makhete Diop of Al Ahli, left, holds off Omar Abdulrahman of Al Ain during the Arabian Gulf League football match between Al Ain and Al Ahli at Hazza bin Zayed Stadium in Al Ain on December 31, 2016. Show more

Al Ain 1 Al Ahli 1

Al Ain: Caio 77' Al Ahli: Fardan 82'

Sent off: Majed Naser (Al Ahli)

Man of the Match: Caio (Al Ain)

The UAE’s two most talented teams provided a fitting finale to 2016, yet neither could be separated at the Hazza bin Zayed Stadium on Saturday night.

The onus probably most fell upon Al Ahli, the visitors to Al Ain and the Garden City’s most bitter rivals, who craved an away victory to leapfrog the hosts in the Arabian Gulf League. As it is, at the halfway stage of the 2016/17 season, champions Ahli sit fourth, with Al Ain one point and one spot better off.

When all was said and done, neither could really lay claim to boisterous New Year’s Eve celebrations. In fact, Al Ain will feel the more aggrieved. The Asian Champions League finalists took the lead deep into the second half once Ahli had been reduced to 10 men, when goalkeeper Majed Naser ruined his recent good behaviour by headbutting Caio. The Al Ain winger made better use of his head on 77 minutes, connecting with a pinpoint cross to put the hosts 1-0 up.

However, Ahli – who had recent signing Makhete Diop playing his club debut – provided the perfect riposte five minutes later, when Habib Fardan pounced on a save from Khalid Essa to draw his side even.

Level on the night, honours even, not much to distinguish between the two as they transition into 2017.

To be fair, that was the story for the majority of the match. The first half was a full-blooded affair, but what it contained in endeavour was not matched by clear-cut chances.

It took until the 20th minute for a meaningful shot at either goal, yet Essa was equal to Ahmed Khalil’s 30-yard free kick. With the ball destined for the top corner, the home goalkeeper threw himself to his left to palm away the ball. He was quickly congratulated by teammates.

At the other end, Naser proved Essa’s equal not long before half time, when the UAE international reacted remarkably quickly to stop a close-range ricochet off substitute Walid Abbas. Al Ain had almost struck the opening blow, however fortuitously.

The pattern continued through the opening exchanges of the second half, with Omar Abdulrahman’s effort from distance flying wide and striker Douglas slashing wildly at the ball to completely miss it. The Brazilian, much maligned despite an admittedly impressive strike record, seems to inch closer still to the exit door.

Around the hour mark, Al Ain should have taken the lead, when a free-flowing moved finished with Caio, stationed just inside the Ahli penalty area, placing his shot high over the crossbar.

Naser watched the ball sail away, then within moments, watched the remainder of the game from the stands. Often explosive, he reacted to Caio’s provocation and thrust his head towards his rival, connecting with the Al Ain man and sending him to the turf. The referee promptly brandished a red card. Buoyed by the extra man, Al Ain poured forward in search of the opener. Then Caio headed home and the home faithful erupted.

Ahli, though, showed the kind of mettle needed to retain the title. On 82 minutes, Khalil forced Essa into a low save, leaving Fardan to spring into action and prod home the ball.

So the conclusion of 2016 marks the end of an era at Ahli, with the surprise news the evening before the encounter that Abdullah Al Naboodah, the club’s pioneering chairman, was to step down from his role. Ahli will soon be waving goodbye to Kwon Kyung-won, too, since the popular South Korean has been sold to China’s Tianjin Quanjian. This was Kwon’s last appearance for the Dubai club.

All in all, it represented a fine send-off. Against the odds, with backs to the wall, Ahli showed they possess the fight to push their title defence long into the campaign.

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