Al Ain impress in Iran to take place in Asian Champions League quarter-finals

Lee Myung-joo and Danilo Asprilla got the goals, got the result that Al Ain craved, that Al Ain required and that the 2003 champions fully deserved, writes John McAuley.

Zobahan 0

Al Ain 2

Lee 12’, Asprilla 62’

Man of the match Omar Abdulrahman (Al Ain)

(Al Ain win 3-1 on aggregate)

Just like Al Nasr, Al Ain are Asian Champions League quarter-finalists, the UAE standing proud on the continent, its two representatives through to the latter stages later this year.

Al Ain were slightly more convincing than their compatriots had been 24 hours previously, triumphing 2-0 in their second leg at Iran’s Zobahan on Wednesday night to take the tie 3-1 on aggregate.

Lee Myung-joo and Danilo Asprilla got the goals, got the result that Al Ain craved, that Al Ain required and that Al Ain fully deserved. Asian champions in 2003 – still the only UAE club to lift the crown – they proved their pedigree when it would have been easy to buckle to the pressure, to surrender to the fatigue that has come from their recent heavy schedule.

As it is, Al Ain can look beyond this Sunday’s President’s Cup final with Al Jazira and to August, when the Champions League resumes at the last-eight stage. They sit two rounds from a third final, from a first since their defeat to Saudi Arabia’s Al Ittihad in 2005.

The current class eventually made light work of their last-16 assignment, shaking free from last week’s disappointing 1-1 home draw against Zobahan to dominate the return fixture in Istafan.

Their hosts were one of only two teams unbeaten thus far this campaign, but even they came unstuck, came up against an Al Ain side too street-smart, too dedicated and too determined to end their season with a real statement of intent.

Al Ain lost their Arabian Gulf League title to rivals Al Ahli last month, so they needed a response, an answer to the relinquishing of their seat at the top of UAE football. Omar Abdulrahman, their captain and chief creator, said as much before they took to the pitch in Iran.

He and his teammates delivered, making the most of their chances at the Foolad Shahr Stadium, keeping Zobahan at bay when the Iranians chased the game in the second half.

By then, Zobahan were already 1-0 down, courtesy of Lee’s expert finish to Abdulrahman’s expert run and assist. There were only 12 minutes of the clock, but Al Ain had a precious opener.

Asprilla threatened thereafter, hitting the post with a cross-cum-shot, yet he was rewarded for his perseverance just after the hour, when he raced free from another Abdulrahman pass to slot home the ball. Al Ain were 2-0 up on the night; Zobahan needed three in response.

It never came, never seemed like coming to the fore, even when Khalid Essa was forced to defend his goal, when centre-backs Ismail Ahmed and Mohanad Salem were called upon to prevent he ball from getting that close to their goalkeeper.

When all was said and done, Al Ain were deservedly through, conveying their suitability to this level, displaying why they have been here before, why they should constitute a greater threat than Nasr, those knockout-stage novices.

If this was the first of two matches to define their season, Al Ain passed with flying colours. As such, they are soaring into the Champions League quarter-finals and can now focus on landing a second President’s Cup in three years.

Zlatko Dalic deserves credit, since he coaxed another gargantuan effort from his players even after they lost the domestic crown to Ahli. In Iran, when it looked like they were set to run out of steam and out of the competition, he received another pristine performance. Al Ain, like Nasr 24 hours before, continue on the continent.

Finally, and with merit, the UAE can celebrate two teams in the later stages of Asia’s premier club event.

Follow us on Twitter @NatSportUAE

Like us on Facebook at facebook.com/TheNationalSport