One of the great joys a football team can give supporters is to make dreams seem real, engendering belief that future celebrations are no longer too far away. Al Ain’s 5-1 AFC Champions League quarter-final dismantling of Al Ittihad fitted that criteria perfectly, breathing life into thoughts of the Boss becoming kings of the continent once again.
Coach Zlatko Dalic’s side were exceptionable in both quarter-final ties against opponents who were meant to be feared.
All the advantages had seemed in the Saudi Arabian’s favour, the two-time champions possessing an intimidating aura and coming into the tie in competitive shape on the back of a brace of top-flight victories. But the Boss are a vivid example of a side in that most special moment, just at the beginning of their ascendancy.
Dalic’s vision, expressed clearly since succeeding Quique Sanchez Flores, has been to create a dynamic, youthful team. One that possesses the nous to stay tight, then spring ruthlessly – and at unstoppable pace – on the counter-attack.
The recast Al Ain were especially breathtaking on Tuesday night, with a late run out for 37-year-old veteran midfielder Helal Saeed appearing purely nostalgic.
An away-day masterclass was crafted in a country where they had lost their last seven ACL fixtures.
UAE international defenders Ismail Ahmed and Mohammed Ahmed were rocks, the former’s own goal at King Abdul Aziz Stadium unable to detract from yet another omnipotent display.
Through the midfield and attack, expertly-selected summer recruits and resident superstars are providing a mix to shake all remaining ACL contenders. Judging by Lee Myung-Joo’s opening pair of competitive appearances for Al Ain alongside Ahmed Barman, South Korea must possess a plethora of truly outstanding defensive midfielders to justify the staggering decision to dump him for the World Cup.
It is from that pair the platform is set for Asamoah Gyan and Omar Abdulrahman to shine bright. The former calmed any nerves of an undeserved Ittihad comebackfollowing Ismail Ahmed’s mistake, extending his lead at the top of the ACL goalscoring charts with a 12th strike of the campaign.
Omar scored the second on Tuesday with the aid of poor officiating, but needed no helping hand in the opening last-eight meeting. His exquisite looped throughball for Gyan labelled by Dalic as something only “two or three players in the world” could conjure.
Miroslav Stoch was the standout star in Saudi, his assist for Gyan’s nerve-settling leveller a beautiful mirror image of Abdulrahman’s. Saudi opponents await again in the semi-finals, with Al Hilal grinding their way past Al Sadd.
From what was produced against Ittihad, Al Ain can feel confident the Saudi Professional League runners up will struggle to match their desire and incision.
With holders Guanghzou Evergrande eliminated, the eastern domination of the title looks far from secure. It is 11 years since the Garden City tasted continental glory.
Four defining matches remain for the new crop to turn into a vintage.
