Al Ain into AFC Champions League group stages after 2-0 win over Bahrain's Malkiya

Matt Jones - Editor 09:02 31/01/2018
  • Facebook
  • Twitter
  • Mail
  • Pinterest
  • LinkedIn
  • Facebook
  • Twitter
  • WhatsApp
  • Pinterest
  • LinkedIn
  • On the scoresheet: Marcus Berg.

    Al Ain overcame a few early scares and initial woe in front of goal to surge into the AFC Champions League group stages on Tuesday night as the Boss brushed aside Bahraini champions Malkiya.

    Zoran Mamic’s hosts were fortunate to be in this position having finished outside the ACL qualification spots in fourth during last season’s Arabian Gulf League.

    But they were given a shot at redemption when new outfit Shabab Al Ahli Dubai Club failed to get an AFC licence – clubs need to be in existence for at least two years to get one, meaning Mamic’s men got into the play-offs.

    Once here though, they grabbed the opportunity with both hands, eventually.

    But it was the away side who started the brighter of the two. Ahmed Al Dakheel, whose side won their first-ever Bahraini Premier League title last season, will have wondered how his team failed to take the lead in the 20th minute when a deep cross to the back post found Issa Al Wahab ghosting past his marker at the back post, the wideman leapt but his header from yards out bounced down and over the bar, somehow.

    That shook the home side into life and captain Omar Abdulrahman – eligible to play as his four-match ban issued for breaking curfew on international duty is only domestic – thought he’d scored when he bent a brilliant shot goalwards, with ‘keeper Abdulkarim Fardan beaten, but so was the post.

    Back came Malkiya on the counter-attack and striker Sayed Hashim somehow escaped the clutches of both Mohanad Salem and Mohammed Ahmed and audaciously tried to chip Khalid Essa, but the Boss stopper clawed it behind for a corner.

    Swedish striker Marcus Berg then blazed over before impressive January acquisition Hussein El Shahat came closest to breaking the deadlock when he collected an astute Abdulrahman pass inside the area and dummied defender Sayed Adnan; he prodded goalwards but twice-capped Nigeria international Gege Soriola slid in superbly to clear off the line.

    It appeared a goal would never come minutes after the restart when the lively Caio centered for Berg who failed to connect while from the resulting corner, the Brazilian winger nodded tamely at Fardan.

    But eight minutes into the second period, Al Ain finally found the key to unlock the Malkiya defence, and it was new man El Shahat who opened the door.

    The ball was played wide and the Egyptian midfielder delivered an inch-perfect first-time cross into the middle, it was on a plate for Berg who calmly sidefooted home much to the relief of the majority inside Hazza bin Zayed Stadium.

    Another eight minutes later and the Boss’ passage into the group stages were effectively sealed, with El Shahat again the architect.

    It came via another superb cross from the right flank, El Shahat this time going to the air, Caio arriving and stooping to send an unstoppable header home.

    Mamic’s side will be joined in competition proper by UAE rivals Al Jazira, Al Wasl and Al Wahda when the tournament starts in 12 days’ time.

    Recommended