Yokohama v Al Ain: Hernan Crespo's side lose out narrowly in ACL final first leg

UAE team go down to two late goals in Japan after Mohammed Abbas put them in front

Al Ain keeper Khalid Essa shakes hands with the Yokohama F Marinos players at full time in the Japanese side's 2-1 victory in the AFC Champions League final first leg at the Yokohama International Stadium, on Saturday, May 11, 2024. Chris Whiteoak / The National

Al Ain manager Hernan Crespo and Yokohama coach Harry Kewell shake hands at full time. Chris Whiteoak / The National

Yokohama manager Harry Kewell. Chris Whiteoak / The National

Soufiane Rahimi of Al Ain battles with Shinnosuke Hatanaka of Yokohama. Chris Whiteoak / The National

Mohammed Abbas of Al Ain celebrates his goal. Chris Whiteoak / The National

Khalid Al Hashemi, centre, and his Al Ain teammates shake hands with the Yokohama players at full time. Chris Whiteoak / The National

Kota Watanabe of Yokohama celebrates after scoring their winner. Chris Whiteoak / The National

Kota Watanabe of Yokohama, second left, celebrates after scoring their second goal. Chris Whiteoak / The National

Kota Watanabe of Yokohama celebrates. Chris Whiteoak / The National

Mohammed Abbas of Al Ain celebrates with teammate Soufiane Rahimi after scoring their opening goal against Yokohama F Marinos. Chris Whiteoak / The National

Asahi Uenaka of Yokohama F Marinos heads to score their opening goal. Getty Images

Asahi Uenaka, right, of Yokohama F Marinos celebrates with teammate Nam Tae-hee after scoring their first goal. Getty Images

Al Ain's Mohammed Abbas scores Al Ain's first goal. Reuters

Kaku of Al Ain battles with Nam Tae-hee of Yokohama. Chris Whiteoak / The National

Soufiane Rahimi of Al Ain battles with Eduardo of Yokohama. Chris Whiteoak / The National

Al Ain manager Hernan Crespo during the game. Chris Whiteoak / The National

Al Ain fans before the first leg against Yokohama F Marinos. Chris Whiteoak / The National

Matias Palacios of Al Ain scores the team's second goal, only to see his strike later disallowed after a VAR review. Getty Images

Matias Palacios of Al Ain celebrates after scoring the team's second goal, which was chalked off by VAR. Getty Images

Ain's Emirati goalkeeper Khalid Eisa punches the ball clear. AFP

Yokohama F Marinos' Taiki Watanabe and Al Ain's Soufiane Rahimi battle. AP

Al Ain's Emirati goalkeeper Khalid Essa makes a save. AFP

Al Ain's Emirati midfielder Mohammed Abbas attempts an overhead kick. AFP

The teams come on to the pitch before kick-off. Chris Whiteoak / The National

Al Ain lost the first leg of the Asian Champions League final in Japan on Saturday, defeated 2-1 by Yokohama F Marinos.

The 2003 champions, the only UAE club to be crowned Asian champions, had taken the lead at Yokohama International Stadium on 12 minutes, when Soufiane Rahimi robbed possession from Carlos Eduardo and raced through on goal.

The Moroccan’s effort was blocked brilliantly by Marinos goalkeeper William Popp, but Mohammed Abbas was on hand to squeeze the rebound into the goal.

The visitors thought they had doubled their lead right on the hour. Matias Palacios broke beyond the Marinos defence and his somehow squirmed through Popp’s legs, only for VAR to show the Al Ain midfielder had strayed just offside.

Either side of the incident, goalkeeper Khalid Essa made super stops to keep his side in front. First, the Al Ain captain tipped around the post Asahi Uenaka’s curled shot from the edge of the area; minutes later, Essa thwarted Takuya Kida with another acrobatic save, the ball then spinning into the air and bouncing on top of the crossbar.

Yet the Marinos eventually pulled level. On 72 minutes, Yan Matheus cut in from the left and sent a perfect cross into the Al Ain area, leaving Uenaka to head home from close range.

With five minutes remaining, the hosts snatched the win. Substitute Kouta Watanabe deflected home Ryo Miyaichi’s shot at the back post but was quickly flagged for offside. However, following a lengthy VAR review, the goal was allowed.

Contesting their first Champions League final, the Marinos will take a slender lead to Al Ain’s Hazza bin Zayed Stadium on May 25.

Al Ain train for ACL final first leg - in pictures

Soufiane Rahimi smiles as Al Ain train ahead of the Asian Champions League final, first leg. All pictures by Chris Whiteoak / The National

Manager Hernan Crespo looks on as his players train at the Nissan Stadium, Yokohama.

Ahmed Barman, centre, gets involved in a rondo during training.

Al Ain players look in relaxed mood during training on the eve of the Asian Champions League final.

Al Ain players smile and joke during a light session at the Nissan Stadium, Yokohama.

Ahmed Barman shares a joke with teammates.

Park Yong-woo calls for the ball.

Mohammed Abbas in action during training in Yokohama.

Kaku gets involved in a shooting drill.

Al Ain players in a huddle at training on the eve of the Asian Champions League final, first leg.