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Al Ain suffer late 2-1 loss at Al Rayyan in Qatar

Al Ain suffered a late blow at Al Rayyan in Qatar on Tuesday night, going down 2-1 in their AFC Champions League fixture to an 86th minute winner from Jaralla Al Marri. Having dominated the match in terms of attacking opportunities, Al Ain were left to rue their numerous missed chances as they failed to add to their tally of 6 points in Group D.

Al Ain got off to a positive start, with Alex Brosque making waves down the left before Jires Kembo-Ekoko got his first shot of the night away in the 4th minute; an effort from just outside the area that skipped past the left-hand upright. The UAE side controlled possession in the opening stages and some lovely build-up play lead to another good chance in the 12th minute, but Matei Mirel Radoi could not direct his header on target. Five minutes later both Kembo-Ekoko and Ali Al Wehaibi registered shots straight at Al Rayyan’s goalkeeper Omar Bari, before Al Rayyan found themselves with an opportunity in the 18th minute as Brazilian midfielder Rodrigo Tabata launched a threatening ball forward, but it was gathered by Mahmood Al Mas in goal for Al Ain.

In the 20th minute Kembo-Ekoko whipped an inviting cross into the box and Omar Abdulrahman got a powerful header to it, but placed it directly into the arms of the goalkeeper. At the other end, Helal Saeed did well to cut out an attack lead by Al Rayyan’s Nilmar, but Al Ain were soon on the attack again as more good build-up between Kembo-Ekoko, Ali Al Wehaibi and a backheel from Omar Abdulrahman set up Radoi for a shot from distance, but the Romanian’s effort rose over the crossbar in the 26th minute. Three minutes later a great ball from Omar Abdulrahman set Alex Brosque away but the Australian blazed over from a tight angle, and in the 36th minute right-back Mohamed Ahmad got forward to have a shot of his own, which was comfortably saved by Omar Bari as Al Ain looked to make their numerous attacks count for something. In the 40th minute Al Ain defender Fares Jumaa halted Nilmar’s darting run, conceding a free kick in a dangerous position, and goalkeeper Mahmood Al Mas had to produce a smart left-handed save to keep Tabata’s goal-bound set piece out. In added time of the first half Alex Brosque fired a left-footed shot over the crossbar from a corner in what was an excellent chance for Al Ain to take the lead, but instead the game remained goalless at half time.

Al Ain came out again in search of a breakthrough as Mohanad Salem’s header from a 51st-minute corner produced a fine save from Al Rayyan’s goalkeeper to turn the ball behind. The home side seemed encouraged by their visitors’ failure to convert their numerous chances, and in the 55th minute were awarded a set piece right on the edge of the area after Nilmar was bundled over in a sandwich between Fares Jumaa and Mohanad Salem. The Al Ain wall did its job in keeping Tabata’s free kick out, but Al Rayyan kept up the pressure in the area and Nathan Otavio’s eventual shot was well stopped by Mahmood Al Mas. Al Ain coach Cosmin Olaroiu’s 58th minute introduction of Mohamed Abdulrahman in place of Ali Al Wehaibi meant the full complement of Abdulrahman brothers were now on the field for Al Ain, but the talented trio were helpless to stop their side going a goal behind just one minute later. The dangerous Nilmar was put through by compatriot Tabata, getting between the centre-backs and rounding the goalkeeper before slotting home to give Al Rayyan a 1-0 lead in the 59th minute. In the 73rd minute an Abdulrahman brother combination almost got Al Ain back on level terms, as Mohamed rose in the penalty area to meet Omar’s delivery but his header skimmed the top of the net. But five minutes later Al Ain were back on par as substitute Yousef Ahmed - on four minutes previously in place of Helal Saeed – rose unopposed in the box to bury a header from Omar Abdulrahman’s corner, making it 1-1 in the 78th minute. In the 81st minute Yousef Ahmed almost won it as his shot from the right just squeezed past the far post, and five minutes later Alex Brosque thought he had sealed the three points but his shot cannoned off the crossbar. In a cruel twist of fate for the UAE side, less than a minute later Al Rayyan stormed up the other end to snatch an 86th minute winner as Nilmar’s shot was helped over the line by Jaralla Al Marri to give Al Rayyan a late 2-1 victory.