This was not a game worth waiting six months for. Not even close.
Yet when centre-back Salmeen Khamis surprisingly headed in Al Ahli’s 86th-minute winner against Al Ain, this was a moment of real poignancy. The Red Knights have endured a shocking decline from last term’s treble success that earned them a place in last night’s long-delayed Arabian Gulf Super Cup.
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Down in sixth spot in the Arabian Gulf League, eliminated in the first round of their Arabian Gulf Cup defence and bottom of their AFC Champions League pool – there has been nothing else to celebrate.
A half-season of pain was forgotten for one moment at least when the final whistle blew, coach Cosmin Olaroiu racing down from the stands following his late dismissal to join his enlivened technical staff and players.
President’s Cup holders Al Ain were expected to breeze their way to the first trophy of many last night. Defeat was certainly hard to stomach for the top-flight leaders.
الاهلي بطل سوبر الخليج العربي pic.twitter.com/MKeyscoBh2
— Al Ahli Club (@AlAhliClub) March 27, 2015
The Mohammed bin Zayed Stadium broke out in rebellion at the death following Mohamed Abdulrahman’s shameful red card for barging into referee Yaqoub Qaseem Al Hammadi. The UAE midfielder’s blood boiled when a penalty was denied for a clumsy – but not knowing – handball in the penalty area from Habib Fardan with his side one-goal down.
Anger consumed the Boss-dominated stands. The refusal of a spot kick saw water bottles and a sandal flung onto the pitch despite coach Zlatko Dalic’s protestations for the supporters to keep their cool.
This loss will sting, but it should not detract from a season poised for success on far grander stages. Victory when the sides meet again when the AGL resumes on April 2 will mean so much for their title hopes.
The opening half was a wasting affair for a traditionally season-opening contest delayed by Al Ain’s run to the 2014 ACL semi-finals and the UAE’s participations in the Gulf Cup and Asian Cup.
Al Ain star striker Gyan’s restriction to the substitute’s bench and typically limp stuff from opposite number Ahmed Khalil robbed both combatants of a focal point.
This is the norm for ailing Ahli. Since jettisoning club legend Grafite in the winter window, they had previously only managed to score in four of 10 fixtures.
The most glaring chance of the half, unsurprisingly, came from an error. Al Ain goalkeeper Khalid Essa’s rushed clearance fell to defensive midfielder Kyung-won Kwon, his pot-shot from 30 yards deflecting to the wasteful Khalil to slice wide via defender Ismail Ahmed.
Awful finishing was not the sole preserve of the Arabian Gulf League holders. With all the time in the world, Mohamed Abdulrahman volleyed insipidly into UAE team-mate Majed Nasser’s grateful grasp via the ground when well placed.
— Al Ahli Club (@AlAhliClub) March 27, 2015
The game seemed to be meandering towards penalties for the fourth-successive year in the UAE’s most enervating fixture. A surprise element was needed.
Khamis duly turned up at the end, glancing a header in unmarked from Abdelaziz Sanqour’s cross after Omar Abdulrahman was robbed of the ball deep in his own half.
Al Ain were left in shock, the game had not run to script. They were soon possessed with rage, penalty calls after a bouncing ball in the box landed on the unsuspecting substitute Fardan’s arm turned away much to their chagrin.
After the ensuing chaos, a late bombardment was deflected in last season’s redoubtable fashion. This triumph was hard earned, long awaited and just-about deserved.
