AL AIN 2 EMIRATES 1
Al Ain - Ibrahim 60', 82' Emirates - M Saeed 71'
AL AIN // Ibrahim Diaky's double saved some blushes for Al Ain as they were made to dig deep to clinch a narrow 2-1 win over Emirates on Wednesday night at the Hazza bin Zayed stadium.
Diaky headed a Miroslav Stoch cross and then regained the lead when he chested a long ball before neatly putting it away after Mubarak Saeed had struck the equaliser.
“Winning the three points was the most important from this game,” said Zladko Dalic, the Al Ain coach. “In the first half we created a lot of chances but unfortunately couldn’t score. I told my players to be patient and the goals would come, and it did come, but then again we conceded a goal from a corner.
“I am really happy for Diaky that he was able to score both goals when given the responsibility of a forward. Overall I am happy for the result considering that it was a close game.”
Al Ain went on the offensive from the word go and they came close to scoring when Rashed Essa’s powerfully struck right-footer from 35 yards crashed against the crossbar in the 24th minute.
They also wasted a few scoring chances but a goal was imminent, although it did not arrive until the hour.
Stoch sent a dipping cross for the unmarked Diaky to head neatly in to the corner of the net.
The lead was short lived as Saeed rose above Fawzi Fayez, the Al Ain defender, to head in Brazilian Rodrigo Silva’s flag kick for the visitors to draw level.
Diaky regained the lead for Al Ain when he chested a long ball from Fayez and expertly volleyed in to the back of the net from just outside the six-yard line.
“My players showed real character in this game,” Paulo Comelli, the Emirates coach, said. “Al Ain had the better of the first half but we came back strongly after the break to score against a strong defence.
“They had just two chances in the second half and they scored. We have to be realistic when playing against big teams like Al Ain but we can take some positives because we gave them a good fight.”
apassela@thenational.ae
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