Al Ain twice came from behind to salvage a 2-2 draw against Saudi Arabia’s Al Ahli in the Asian Champions League on Monday at the King Abdullah Sports City in Jeddah.
Aqeel Al Sahbi opened the scoring for the visitors from a set piece before Al Ain striker Nassir Al Shamrani struck the equaliser.
Ioannis Fetfatzidis regained the lead for Ahli shortly after the restart, but Al Sahbi headed a corner into his own net to earn a share of the spoils.
The draw means Ahli remain top of Group C with seven points, two in front of Al Ain, who also remain undefeated in the group. They are one point ahead of Iran’s Zobahan, who defeated bottom side Bunyodkor of Uzbekistan 2-0 on Monday.
A point away from home is a satisfactory night’s work for Al Ain as it keeps them very much in the race for a passage into the knockout round of the competition with two home games against Ahli and Bunyodkor to come.
__________________________________
■ More Asian Champions League: UAE's Al Ahil only manage draw
__________________________________
Ahli had the early pressure and only a spectacular reflex save by Al Ain goalkeeper Khalid Eisa from a close-range header from Aqeel Al Sahbi prevented them from drawing first blood 10 minutes into the game.
The home side continued with their early assault but failed to find the net.
Omar Al Somah, their Syrian forward, was twice off target and so was Abdulfattah Asiri.
They finally made the breakthrough when Al Sahbi volleyed over Eisa into the back of the net for a 26th-minute lead.
However, the home side’s joy was short-lived.
Omar Abdulrahman split the Ahli defence for Al Shamrani to squeeze the ball past keeper Yasser Al Mosailem two minutes later.
It was a timely goal that not only eased the pressure but provided Al Ain with the confidence to push for the lead for the remainder of the first half.
They forced a few shots but the closest they came to scoring was when Danilo Aspirilla’s header from inside the six-yard box went straight at Al Mosailem.
The second half started as much as the first period.
Eisa was in the spotlight again when he pushed away a close-range header from Al Somah off an Al Asiri cross.
But Ahli regained the lead in the 50th minute when Fetfatzidis made Al Ain pay for a poor defensive work.
The Greek winger found the net at the near post with a precise shot past Eisa.
Again, Al Ain’s reply was swift. Only this time, a corner kick was headed in the Ahli goal by their own defender Al Sahbi.
Al Mosailem did well to save a free kick from Al Ain’s Brazilian forward Caio and moments later a similar effort at the other end from 25 yards from Al Somah crashed against the crossbar.
Ahli pressed hard to regain the lead but Al Ain’s defence marshalled by Ismail Ahmed did not give in to the pressure.
apassela@thenational.ae
Follow us on Twitter @NatSportUAE
Like us on Facebook at facebook.com/TheNationalSport