Al Ain’s preparations for their upcoming AFC Champions League quarter-final tie continued in glorious fashion as they claimed overall victory in the three-team Al Ain International Football Championship.
Coach Zlatko Dalic’s men secured a 1-1 draw against Saudi Professional League champions Al Nasr at Khalifa bin Zayed Stadium in the final evening of matches, topping the table on four points because of Wednesday’s huge 4-0 victory against Al Kuwait.
Mohammed Al Sahlawi had put their Riyadh-based opponents ahead, before Boss forward Jires Ekombo Ekoko continued his lethal pre-season form with a 75thminute equaliser.
“We kept the ball in the first half but we made some mistakes, while Al Nasr played only counterattacks and from one mistake they scored,” coach Dalic said. “In the second half we made some changes and there is some development.”
Al Ain face Saudi side Al-Ittihad FC on August 19 in the first leg of their quarter-final.
