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Al Hilal hold Al Shabab to a 1-1 draw in the ACL third round match

 

The UAE Football Team Al Shabab were held to a 1-1 draw by Al Hilal of Saudi Arabia in the Asian Champions League (ACL) third round match of Group "D" played this evening at Maktoum Bin Rashid Al Maktoum Stadium in Dubai.

 

Al Shabab raised their tally to two points but still classified at the bottom of the table on goal difference from Al Garrafa of Qatar who lost tonight to Piroozi from Iran leaders of this group with 7 points. Al Hilal retained their second position after raising their balance to three points.

The two teams played this game without a number of their key players.  Kieza was almost to open the score for the hosts only nine minutes from the word go when he received a long pass from his colleague Ciel but he could not control the ball.  Al Hilal also missed a lovely sitter in the 21st minute when Salim Al Dosary's close -range volley which he launched from inside the box went just close to the upright.  Brazilian striker of Al Shabab Ciel tested his luck of a strong left footer but it was controlled and saved by the goalkeeper Khalid Al Sharaheeli in the 31st minute. The South Korean professional player lost a brilliant opportunity for the visiting team when he was sent free with only the goalie to beat, but Al Shabab's custodian Ismail Rabie saved bravely.

Both squads continued their attempts trying to score an early goal but all their efforts were in vain. The home team looked the better side as they pressed hard giving their rivals hard time and their work was rewarded when Ciel sent a left shot from out the box that went straight into the net giving the Dubai - based team a 1-0 lead in the 37th minute. 

The Saudi team demonstrated a poor display and were highly affected by their missing players. They failed to threaten their opponents' goal as their attacks were very weak. Their Swedish star Willhelmsson came close to level the score when he sent a severe shot from inside the six yard area, but Ismail Rabie saved bravely to deflect the ball to a corner three minutes from the end of the first session which ended in favor of Al Shabab with a lone goal lead.

Al Hila's coach brought in Mohammad Al Shalhoob after the break to replace Abdullah Al Dosary but pulled Willhelmsson seven minutes later after losing an easy chance in the 50th minute. Al Shalhoob made the difference for Al Hilal with his perfect and dangerous passes for the Saudis side to turn to a different team in the second half. Al Hilal made every bit of effort trying to bring the game to the first square and their Korean striker Byung Soo succeded in leveling the score in the 70th minute.

Al Shabab and Al Hilal went on their forays in the last minutes but failed to find the target and the upright deprived Waleed Abbas from scoring the winner in the last seconds to end the game with a 1-1 draw.