Caio fires Al Ain to victory

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  • The comparisons were easily drawn and not flattering towards Al Ain.

    In an opening round during which Arabian Gulf League champions Al Ahli thumped Emirates Club 4-0, their closest expected challengers were stuttering towards a goalless draw against mid-table Bani Yas.

    The portents for an engaging battle between the UAE’s bitterest rivals did not look promising upon first inspection.

    But for the second time in a week, summer buy Caio delivered.

    A calm, curled finish from the Brazilian winger had edged the Boss into the semi-finals of the AFC Champions League during the midweek test at Uzbekistan’s Lokomotiv Tashkent.

    What followed in front of a sparsely-populated Hazza bin Zayed Stadium was more emphatic, more visual.

    Eternally-frustrating wide man Danilo Asprilla’s looped cross was expertly killed with his thigh, before the Dh12.4m buy from Kashima Antlers produced an Exocet missile of a shot from the edge of the penalty box with 20 minutes left which left UAE reserve Ahmed Dida utterly helpless as it crashed in off the underside of the crossbar.

    Al Ain v Bani Yas 07

    “For us, three points is most important from this game, it’s the only thing I asked from my players before it,” said relieved Al Ain coach Zlatko Dalic.

    “We played five days ago in the Champions League and did everything there, so it was not easy to come back to our league.”

    This moment of genuine, undeniable class from Caio was glaring on a night when only the poverty of performance from team-mates Asprilla and Douglas, plus the ceaseles energy from new Sky Blues boss Pablo Repetto, stood out.

    The result was harsh on the man who led minnows Independiente del Valle to the 2016 Copa Liberatodore final and who engineered a stoic display from troops who ambled towards ninth spot last season.

    His energy and constant interaction must continue to elicit a similar reaction, otherwise he could suffer the same fate as similarly-animated predecessor Luis Garcia.

    “I’m not happy with the result, but I’m convinced by my team’s spirit and performance,” said the Uruguayan.

    “In general, I’m satisfied with the level of the players – we should now look forward.”​

    Caio made notice of his talents within the first minute, rattling the post of Dida – a smart summer pick-up from the bench at Ahli.

    Al Ain v Bani Yas 09

    The Boss failed to build on this, with Asprilla’s wild lashed shot from inside the box when he had ample time to compose himself exemplifying their frustrations.

    As the clock ticked past the hour mark, Al Ain old boy Fellipe Bastos – who outperformed the man who switched the other way this summer, Amer Abdulrahman – marked his return to the Hazza with a dipping 35-yard free-kick which had to be pushed to safety by goalkeeper Khalid Essa.

    This moment – against the run of play – stung the hosts into life, Caio’s thunderous shot producing a sonic boom as it went in.

    But there was still time for a worrisome wound to be inflicted on a small squad, with Essa suffering a hamstring injury at the death.

    So many question marks remain about Al Ain. They need to keep producing emphatic answers to stand any chance of lasting the course with the Red Knights.

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