aL AIN // Al Ain must win by a two-goal margin against Esteghlal of Iran if they are to make the quarter finals of the Asian Champions League.
The Garden City club went down to a stoppage-time penalty 1-0 in the first leg in Tehran in front of a partisan 65,000 crowd and they now have the task of turning that result around on Monday (10.45pm kick off) at the Hazza bin Zayed Stadium.
In the case of Al Ain winning 1-0, the game will go into extra time and if the deadlock is still not broken, it will be decided on a penalty shootout.
Zoran Mamic, the Al Ain manager, will be under pressure to deliver after a trophy-less season. They also missed out on a spot in next year’s continental championship after finishing fourth in the domestic Arabian Gulf League.
“One mistake cost us dearly in the first leg but this game will be different from what we played in Tehran,” Mamic said.
“We are into the second half of this game and we want to make sure we don’t repeat the mistake. You will see a different game tomorrow from what we played in Tehran.
“We have a target to achieve. It’s not going to be easy but we must go out there and do it, if we want to remain in the competition. The players know what they must do and I’m quite confident they will do it.”
Saeed Juma, the Al Ain defender who was given a direct red for a foul on Esteghlal’s Mohsin Karimi, sits out the game but otherwise Mamic has a full squad at his disposal.
Al Ain’s attack will be strengthened with the return of Nasser Al Shamrani, the Saudi Arabia international who missed out on the first leg.
“His return to the side is certainly a positive but we are looking at the overall performance from the team, and will need the support of all the players,” Mamic said.
The Al Ain manager has appealed for the fans Emirati fans to come to the stadium in large numbers and support his players.
“Esteghlal had the crowd behind them in Tehran and we would like to see the same when we play at home,” he said. “This title is not only for Al Ain but the entire UAE. So, I would like to see a full stadium supporting us.”
Lee Myung-joo, the South Korean midfielder will be playing his last game for Al Ain as his contract will not be renewed.
“I want to make sure the team qualifies for the next round,” he said. “I will do everything I can to give the best parting gift to the club and the fans.”
Alireza Mansourian, the Esteghlal manager, is expecting a backlash and said they are facing a “difficult” remaining 50 per cent of the game.
“We passed the first 50 per cent of the game in Tehran and now we have the remaining half of the challenge,” he said.
“Al Ain are very good side. We found it hard to defeat them at home and now they have the home advantage. Obviously, we want to preserve our advantage and we are ready for the challenge.”
Esteghlal will be without forward Farshid Esmaeili who was sent off in the first leg game by Chinese referee Fu Ming.
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