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Emirates remain only UAE contender in the 2011 AFC Champions League

Ras Al Khaimah's Emirates Club remain the only UAE flag-bearers left in the 2011 AFC Champions League Competition after all of the other three participating teams, Al Jazira, Al Ain and Al Wahda, are now out of contention. All four teams will play their last round this Tuesday and Wednesday (May 10 and 11), with Emirates being the only team who will play away when they meet Al Rayyan of Qatar at Ahmad Bin Ali Stadium in Doha at 7:50pm.

Despite losing to Zoba Han of Iran in their last match by a solitary goal, Emirates still have a chance to move into the next stage. They have collected 6 points from five games and must win against Al Rayyan of Qatar to raise their tally to 9 points, a balance which will secure them a berth in the next phase, as long as Al Shabab of Saudi Arabia lose to Zoba Han in their match tomorrow. The Iranian side are on top of Group "D" with 13 points while Al Shabab have 8 points in second position and Al Rayyan of Qatar have only 1 point. But Emirates are going to miss the efforts of eight of their key players in their away match due to both suspension and injury, including Mohammad Bu Al Safad, goalkeeper Ahmad Al Shaji, Idris Fawzi, Omer Abdul Aziz, Ali Rabei, Mustafa Saeed, Al Haj Bugash and Abdullah Ali.

In other matches, Al Wahda will face Piroozi of Iran at Al Nahyan Stadium in Abu Dhabi tomorrow night; kick off at 8:30pm. Al Wahda dashed their hopes of qualifying to the 2011 AFC Champions League next stage after losing 2-3 to Bunyodkor of Uzbekistan in their last game played on April 3 at Jar Stadium. Both Al Ittihad of Saudi Arabia and Bunyodkor have qualified from Group "C" to the next stage, while Al Wahda and Piroozi can't make it. Al Wahda will be looking for their first victory since the start of the competition as they have lost to Al Ittihad and Bunyodkor, and drawn to Al Ittihad, Bunyodkor and Piroozi. They will play tomorrow's game without their Brazilian duo of Magrao and Bayano due to injury.

Both Al Ain and Al Jazira will play on Wednesday, April 11, with the former hosting Nagoya Grampus of Japan at Tahnoun Bin Mohammad Stadium in Qattara at 7.40pm, and Al Jazira facing Sepahan of Iran at Mohammad Bin Zayed Stadium in Abu Dhabi at 8pm.