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Al Ahli win Arabian Gulf Super Cup in tense penalty shoot-out

It was Al Ahli goalkeeper Majed Naser who was the hero of the day as he saved two Al Ain penalties to win the Arabian Gulf Super Cup with a 3-2 penalty shoot-out victory. Having played out a 0-0 draw in normal time, Al Ahli were more clinical from the spot as Ciel, Hugo Viana and Azooz Sanqour converted to secure the first piece of silverware for the 2013/14 season.

 

Right from the kick-off, Al Ain fashioned an early chance which Asamoah Gyan almost headed home, but his opening effort flew wide of the post. Within ten minutes Al Ahli replied with an attack but Fares Juma got across well to clear Azooz Sanqour’s effort. Five minutes later, it was Gyan again who posed a threat, racing through and rounding Al Ahli goalkeeper Majed Naser but his touch was too heavy and the Ghanaian international was forced to cut back for Omar Abdulrahman rather than shooting. The dynamic UAE midfielder tried his luck but Al Ahli got back to block and clear their lines.

 

In a cagey first half hour with few clear-cut chances, Asamoah Gyan almost broke the deadlock in spectacular style in the 29th minute. Despite being closely marked by UAE international defender Saad Surour, Gyan managed to unleash a stinging drive from 25 yards, which clattered the crossbar before going behind for a goal kick. In the 34th minute, Al Ain’s new signing Michel Bastos gave the crowd a glimpse of what he’s capable of with a fine exchange of passing between himself and Omar Abdulrahman, but the Brazilian’s final effort sailed over the bar. Al Ain were forced into an early change as veteran captain Helal Saeed was forced to come off with a knock and Ahmed Al Shamisi came on in his place, with Mirel Radoi taking the armband. A minute before half time Al Ahli made a positive move, as a corner by Jiminez was cut back to Viana, who whipped in a cross from the left, but Al Ain’s new Emirati goalkeeper Khalid Essa leapt to punch away the danger and keep the scores at 0-0 at half time.

 

Cosmin’s team talk saw Al Ahli come out with more determination in the second half, as new Brazilian striker Ciel searched for a debut goal with a powerful drive just over the bar in the 51st minute, followed by another strong shot nine minutes later which Khalid Essa palmed away. In the 63rd minute, Omar Abdulrahman demonstrated some of his silky skills as he skipped forward to register a shot on target, but a minute later Al Ahli almost found their opening at the other end of the pitch. A lovely give-and-go between Ismaeel Al Hammadi and Ciel somehow ended with the pintsized Emirati attacker sending his close-range shot just wide of the post.

 

Sensing Al Ahli’s hold on the game, Jorge Fossati made Al Ain’s second substitution of the game by bringing defender Mohamed Ahmed off, to be replaced by midfielder Hazza Salem. Four minutes later, however, Al Ain were forced into making their final change as Khaled Abdulrahman was stretchered off with an injury and replaced by debutant Diaky. Al Ahli also made their first substitution in the 72nd minute, exchanging striker Ahmed Khalil for midfielder Amer Mubarak. With both teams restricting each other to making efforts from distance, Al Ahli’s Luis Jiminez saw his 74th minute shot clip the corner of the post and the crossbar, whilst Diaky’s 78th minute drive was deflected behind for an Al Ain corner.

 

With the hot weather conditions not helping the players in their first competitive match of the 2013/14 season, both sides cancelled each other out until the game erupted into life in the final minute. Al Ahli’s young Emirati midfielder Majed Hassan was shown a straight red card for taking out Omar Abdulrahman with a tackle from behind, and the 21-year-old apologetically left the field, gesturing to say sorry to both sets of supporters. Ismaeel Ahmed’s injury time header from a corner almost won it for Al Ain but the game could not be decided within the 90 minutes as it finished 0-0, to go straight to penalties.

 

Penalty Shoot-Out

Shooting towards Al Ahli’s fans, Al Ain’s Asamoah Gyan stepped up to cooly convert the first spot kick. Al Ahli’s first penalty, taken by Luis Jiminez, was saved superbly by Khalid Essa, before Al Ain’s Omar Abdulrahman also saw his effort thwarted by Al Ahli goalkeeper Majed Naser. Ciel slid a slick penalty into the net to make it 1-1, before Ahmed Al Shamisi missed his kick for Al Ain. Hugo Viana put Al Ahli 2-1 up, Fares Juma made it 2-2 with a composed finish, Azooz Sanqour gave Al Ahli a 3-2 advantage, and the penalty shoot-out was wrapped up when Al Ain’s Diaky saw his spot kick saved by Majed Naser to hand Al Ahli the Arabian Gulf Super Cup.

 

PENALTIES:

AL AIN:

Asamoah Gyan – Scored

Omar Abdulrahman – Saved by Majed Naser

Ahmed Al Shamisi – Missed

Fares Juma – Scored

Diaky – Saved by Majed Naser

 

AL AHLI:

Luis Jiminez – Saved by Khalid Essa

Ciel – Scored

Hugo Viana – Scored

Azooz Sanqour – Scored