Al Ain: Omar Abdulrahman made up for Al Ain’s faltering frontline as the club’s star midfielder scored with a fine free kick to give Zlatko Dalic’s side a 1-0 victory over Saudi Arabia’s Al Ahli on Wednesday.
The United Arab Emirates international (pictured right) scored with 19 minutes remaining to give Al Ain their first win of the campaign after back-to-back losses against El Jaish had left the 2003 champions facing a serious challenge to advance to the knockout rounds.
Despite dominating possession – just as they had done in both games against the Qataris – Al Ain’s forwards struggled in front of goal, with Mohammad Abdulrahman and Douglas both proving ineffective once again.
Fellipe Bastos carried much of the early threat for Al Ain, with the Brazilian firing off an early attempt that caused Yasser Al Mosailem few problems in the Al Ahli goal before compatriot Douglas pushed his attempt narrowly wide soon after.
Bastos’ powerful, dipping free kick from long range was fumbled by Al Mosailem just ahead of the half hour mark before the ball was hacked to safety by the Al Ahli defence.
With six minutes remaining in the half, Abdulrahman went closest of all, the Al Ain captain sending his free kick from 25 yards up and over the defensive wall, only for the ball to come back off the crossbar with Al Mosailem well beaten.
Abdulrahman was to try his luck again 13 minutes into the second half as Al Ain continued to hold the upper hand, shooting from the edge of
the area in open play but only managing to send the ball wide of the target.
Al Ahli had been second best for most of the first hour, but eventually the Jeddah club stirred into life and Syrian forward Omar Al Somah began to show his teeth.
In the 59th minute the striker had his effort from just outside the area saved by Khalid Eisa while less than a minute later, with the goalkeeper stranded, his looping volley came back off the top of the cross bar.
Al Ahli were left to rue those misses as Al Ain finally found the back of the net when Abdulrahman stepped up to take a free kick on the edge of the area, curling the ball with his left around the wall and beyond Al Mosailem via the inside of his right post.
Photo: Lagardère Sports
Source: the-afc.com