AL AIN – Ismail Ahmed says Al Ain can use the disappointment of losing the Arabian Gulf League title to end the season with Asian Champions League and President's Cup success.
The Garden City club surrendered their domestic crown to Al Ahli last week in the penultimate round of the campaign, but responded on Tuesday night by progressing to the knockout stages of the Champions League.
Al Ain defeated Uzbekistan's Nasaf 2-0 at the Hazza bin Zayed Stadium to finish second in Group D and move into the last 16 for the third successive year. They next face Iran's Zobahan across two legs, with the first match at home on May 18.
Before that, Al Ain conclude their Arabian Gulf League campaign against Emirates club on Sunday and then four days later take on Al Wasl in the quarter-finals of the President’s Cup in Abu Dhabi.
Ahmed says his side have moved on from last month’s title-deciding 1-0 defeat to Ahli, and that it could now serve them well as they attempt to end the season on a positive note.
“When we lost against Al Ahli in the league we knew that was finished, but that we still play in the Champions League and the President’s Cup,” he said. “Against Ahli everybody was upset because when we lost the points we knew we had lost the championship.
“Everybody knows how we feel when we win and when we lose it’s different. So I hope that motivates us and hopefully from now we’ll give our best for Al Ain and all the fans.”
Al Ain’s qualification for the Champions League knockouts is obviously a boost, confirmed by a well-deserved but at times tense victory against Nasaf. The 2003 champions, the only UAE side to win the continental competition, were the dominant team, but it took Ahmed’s headed goal in the last minute to make the game safe.
The Al Ain and UAE international defender said making the last 16 was crucial to building his side’s confidence for the final weeks of the season.
“This was the goal, an important game to take three points and qualify for the second round,” Ahmed said. “Before the game, everybody knew, we spoke in the changing room that everybody must fight for 90 minutes and that’s what happened.
“The second round will be strong, it will be difficult because everybody needs to win, but hopefully we’ll give all our best and pass the next stage.”
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