ABU DHABI // Al Ain were made to regret the absence of their top scorer, Asamoah Gyan, last night as they were knocked out of the President's Cup by another African striker - one they let leave the club in 2009.
After a goalless 90 minutes, Andre Senghor, the Senegalese forward, rose above the Al Ain defence in extra time to score the only goal of a quarter-final that was thrilling but lacked goals at Al Wahda's Al Nahyan Stadium.
Baniyas will now face Wahda in the semi-finals.
Gyan, who tops the scoring chart in the Pro League with 10 goals from nine games, joined his national team for the African Cup of Nations starting from January 21, jointly hosted by Gabon and Equatorial Guinea.
Gyan's place in the line-up was filled by Mohammed Naser, and Ignacio Scocco, the Argentine midfielder, played alongside him, but both failed to find the target from a flurry of chances, particularly in the second half.
There was drama from the very first minute. The referee Fahad Al Kasar awarded a penalty but later rightly changed the decision after consulting the linesman as Abdulrahman's shot hit the outstretched hand of Mohammed Fawzi when he took evasive action, but he was outside the area.
Mohammed Ali Ghuloom, the Baniyas goalkeeper, did well to punch away the powerful strike from the ensuing free kick from Scocco.
Al Ain went on the offensive from the onset of the second half. They pushed for the lead and could have scored through Abdulrahman, but his effort from 12 yards sailed over the crossbar.
Al Ain looked the most likely to win the game as they continued to pile forward.
Mohammed Malallah's header from close range late in the game was well saved by Ghuloom, who also kept out a stinging long-range Mohammed Salem, the substitute, as Baniyas held on to force the game into extra time.
And that is when Gabriel Calderon's side struck, with Senghor leaping to get his head onto a long ball which looped over a stranded Al Ain keeper.
It was a sweet moment for Senghor, who was deemed surplus to requirements at Al Ain. He has now scored six times in six games against his former club.
Al Ain, the Pro League leaders pressed forward, but no equaliser came leaving Baniyas, winners of the trophy in 1992, to celebrate.
apassela@thenational.ae
Senghor returns to send his old club Al Ain crashing out
Al Ain miss striker Asamoah Gyan in President's Cup loss.
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