The inevitable has finally occurred in the Arabian Gulf League, Al Ain hitting the front for the first time this term following last night’s victory against Fujairah. The question now during the remaining months of the season is whether anyone can stop them?
Ominous signs were in multitude at Hazza bin Zayed Stadium in a match the Boss also gained revenge for their 1-0 loss at the same opponents last time out in the top flight.
Striker Asamoah Gyan – top scorer in the UAE for the last three seasons – struck a brace, providing the highlights of an improved display as the rigours of Ghana’s run to the 2015 Africa Cup of Nations final continue to ebb away.
Happy to be back amongst the goals for @alainfcae more work ahead: http://t.co/zXEDlq32cX #monko
— ASAMOAH GYAN (@ASAMOAH_GYAN3) February 28, 2015
Huge cheer was also elicited when inspirational playmaker Omar Abdulrahman shook of a three-week hamstring complaint to emerge as a halftime substitute, his fourth AGL appearance of a disrupted campaign coming a week after the securing of a new three-year deal for Asia’s emerging superstar.
The next week will be hugely telling about Al Ain’s destiny this term. Tuesday sees their second AFC Champions League Group B fixture at Naft Tehran, with Sunday’s top-of-the-table meeting against previous pacesetters Al Jazira pivotal to both side’s domestic aspirations.
The Boss enter both clashes in better nick, a scoreless run in their last two fixtures ending yesterday evening. With Omar Abdulrahman probing and Gyan a more lively presence on the shoulder of the last defender, everything makes perfect sense again in coach Zlatko Dalic’s system.
Great news for @uaefa_ae & #alainfc supporters as Omar #Abdulrahman makes the bench for today's #AGLeague clash against @Fuj_FC @3moory10
— Matt Monaghan (@mattmonaghan360) February 28, 2015
This fixture – the second of two accrued during the run to the 2014 ACL semi-finals – was not always clear cut.
The visitors squandered the best opportunity during an opening period devoid of vigour. Humaid Ahmed was the culprit, dragging his low shot painfully wide when played in by Boss old boy and match winner from the previous meeting Boubacar Sanogo.
Two snatched chances from Mohamed Abdulrahman had been the sum of Al Ain’s efforts prior to Ayyoub Al Marzouqi’s clumsy intervention on 44 minutes. The Fujairah goalkeeper needlessly clattered into the back of Gyan when trying to retrieve a bouncing ball in the penalty box, referee Yaqoub Qaseem Al Hammadi left with no choice but to point to the spot. Gyan shuffled and sent the transgressor the wrong way to begin the beating.
Omar Abdulrahman’s emergence from the bench made the hosts more fluid, although an own goal as defender Abdulaziz Ismail bundled home a Miroslav Stoch corner secured the second.
Al Ain were finally at their best for the third. Omar Abdulrahman – calmness personified on the ball – spotted onrushing UAE team-mate Mohamed Ahmed, the right-back’s low cross converted effortlessly by Gyan from close-range.
Such moves containing two of the finest players in the Middle East make Al Ain a prospect to be feared. For the first time since the AGL turned professional in 2008, we have a genuine title race.
The next week will be telling as to whether Al Jazira will keep up with the burgeoning Boss for the full distance.
