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Al Ain 3-1 victors in AFC Champions League opener against Al Hilal

Al Ain began their AFC Champions League campaign in the best possible fashion with a 3-1 victory over fellow Group D side Al Hilal of Saudi Arabia, in front of a vocal home crowd at the Tahnoun Bin Mohammed Stadium on Wednesday night. Al Ain got off to a bright start, creating their first great scoring opportunity in the opening three minutes as a telling cross from Kembo-Ekoko was almost met by Alex Brosque, and the Australian forward also registered a header on target a few minutes later. However, against the run of play, it was the visitors who took the lead in the 9th minute from a corner, with Salem getting a headed flick-on before Abdulla Al Dossary finished left-footed from a tight angle to make it 1-0 as Al Ain’s goalkeeper Dawood Sulaiman was already on the floor.

The home side immediately hit back with a wave of attacks as Alex Brosque had a penalty claim waved away before Kembo-Ekoko’s follow-up shot from distance hit the post and rebounded out for Al Hilal to clear the danger. Despite Al Ain’s attacking dominance, they always had to be wary of the threat posed by Al Hilal on the break as a powerful strike unleashed by Salman Al Faraj whistled past the post in the 23rd minute. But just three minutes later, Al Ain were back in the game in spectacular fashion as Kembo-Ekoko and Khaled Abdulrahman combined down the left, with the latter whipping a cross into the box. UAE’s golden boy Omar Abdulrahman caught his shot sweetly on the volley, hitting powerfully through it with his laces and planting a wonderful finish into the back of the net to make it 1-1 in the 26th minute. The equaliser fired Al Ain up as they went in search of more, with a Kembo-Ekoko shot being driven into the ground, and bobbling up awkwardly before being saved by Al Hilal’s goalkeeper Abdullah Al Sudairy. The UAE club endured a few nervy minutes in and around the box before half time but Al Ain’s defense stood firm and went into the break with the scores level at 1-1, and all to play for in the second half.

Al Ain came out from the dressing rooms with all guns blazing and within seconds of the restart they had taken the lead. Omar Abdulrahman turned provider as he was unleashed down the right, whipping an inch-perfect cross in for Alex Brosque to coolly slot past Al Sudairy and put Al Ain 2-1 up, to the delight of the home fans. Ten minutes later Al Ain were handed the perfect opportunity to extend their lead, as Alex Brosque surged into the box and was bundled over by Salem Al Dossari. The Referee awarded a penalty and gave Salem his marching orders for the clumsy challenge, but the chance to go further ahead in the tie was squandered by Matei Mirel Radoi, who struck his spot kick weakly down the middle and Al Hilal’s keeper saved in the 55th minute to keep his team in the game.

Al Ain retained possession well and kept Al Hilal’s opportunities to exert any influence on the game down to a minimum, whilst the home side continued to build attacks as they looked to put the win to bed. Mohamed Abdulrahman almost repeated his brother’s feat as he hit a good volleyed effort in the 68th minute, but it rose over the crossbar, and Alex Brosque saw several efforts go painfully close. Substitutions and an injury to Ali Al Wehaibi disrupted the rhythm of play in the second half but it was always Al Ain who looked more likely to wrap up the victory, and that is exactly what they did when substitute Asamoah Gyan finished a fine right-footed strike with aplomb in injury time to seal the win at 3-1.