Al Ain 1 (Douglas 9')
Zobahan 1 (Abbasi 76')
Man of the match Ali Hamam (Zobahan)
Halfway through their Asian Champions League last-16 assignment, Al Ain still have a considerable distance to go.
The Garden City club, the UAE’s only continental champions, were held to a sapping and subdued 1-1 draw at home by Iran’s Zobahan on Wednesday night, a regrettable first-leg result that seriously toughens next week’s return match in Istafan.
Al Ain were far from their best despite going ahead early through Douglas, but they did little to build on their advantage before eventually conceding with 14 minutes remaining. The manner of the goal, when defender Ismail Ahmed and goalkeeper Khalid Essa contrived to misjudge Mohammed Abbasi’s powder-puff header, will have particularly stung.
Zobahan had parity and, more crucially, a precious away goal. Al Ain face an uphill task from here.
See also:
• John McAuley: Zlatko Dalic expecting 'a really tough game' for Al Ain in ACL last-16 tie with Zobahan
• Wednesday's cover: Al Nasr one step closer in their Asian Champions League pursuit
• Report: Al Nasr plough through Tractor Sazi 4-1 in home leg of Asian Champions League last-16
“We cannot be satisfied with the result, with the 1-1, because we conceded a goal,” said Zlatko Dalic, the Al Ain manager. “Our goal was a clean sheet, but we conceded very easily. We opened the game great, scored a quick goal and then had some opportunities for a second goal.
“In the second half, we lost possession and conceded easy goal, but there’s nothing decided now: we have a second game, 1-1’s not good result, not bad result for us, but we must trust that we can change everything there.
“Tonight we played good game, especially in the first half. I can’t say anything against my players. We have a result, we have to go there and try to win.”
Initially, Al Ain seemed set for an immediate victory, to enjoy a night similar to Al Nasr the previous evening, when the Dubai side dismantled Tractor Sazi, another Iranian rival, 4-1 at Al Maktoum Stadium.
Douglas had given Al Ain the lead on nine minutes, seconds after Zobahan defender Ali Hammam somehow twice cleared off his goal line to deny Mohammed Abdulrahman and Lee Myung-joo.
As Zobahan tried to regroup, Douglas reacted fastest to Ismail Ahmed’s volleyed centre and prodded home right on the line. It was the Brazilian’s third such goal in two games, a carbon copy but with its own merit, too.
Al Ain dominated possession, but did not conjure another clear-cut opportunity until the 37th minute, when Mohammed Abdulrahman’s shot was tipped onto the Zobahan crossbar by goalkeeper Mohammed Mazaheri.
The visitors grew into the game in the second half as the intensity dropped, finally rewarded for their perseverance on 76 minutes when Abbasi rose above Mohammed Ahmed at Al Ain’s back post and directed his header downwards.
A tame knockdown, it caused Ismail Ahmed to hesitate before the ball spun up and through Essa’s gloves. The Hazza bin Zayed Stadium, far from packed, was stunned into silence.
Al Ain searched for a winner, but ultimately it was in vain, the 2003 champions lacklustre and leggy as they struggled through their 41st game of the campaign. They will need to find another gear for their trip to Iran next week, where Zobahan are unbeaten thus far this tournament, but first Al Ain must negotiate Saturday’s President’s Cup semi-final against Baniyas.
With vital fixtures coming thick and fast, they may be running out of steam at exactly the wrong time. Dalic, though, warned not to rule out his side just yet.
“Always, we have full confidence,” he said. “Sometimes it’s not what we want, sometimes we win, sometimes we lose. But I can’t say anything against anybody, because we played a good game, we run so much, we fight, we create many chances, especially in the first half when we tried to get the second goal.
“But as they scored a goal here, we can do that there. I trust my team, why not? What’s happened? Today was first half. The game’s not finished.”
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