Al Ain’s season seemed to be spiralling further out of control.
Fresh from their capitulation during the domestic decider against Al Ahli, they were a goal behind within a minute to dogged Nasaf on Tuesday night. Sloppy marking from a set-piece appeared to set the tone for another harmful result, placing their AFC Champions League recovery in jeopardy.
Inspiration was required to dig them out of a rut. The spring heels of flying winger Danilo Asprilla were to provide it in the unfamiliar surroundings of Qarshi’s half-full Central Stadium.
A playful nutmeg past the half-hour mark was followed by a punishing burst of acceleration, his ruthless finish into the bottom corner helping salvage a 1-1 draw.
Prevail during the return meeting on home soil at the start of next month and a third-successive progression to the round of 16 is theirs.
Not bad, when you consider a pair of opening losses to Qatar’s El Jaish gave the club its worst-ever start in Asian competition. Never mind the psychological damage caused by Thursday’s almost-certain loss of their Arabian Gulf League crown.
That result and travelling to a team who are joint top of the Uzbek League made the victory which would guarantee early progression a long shot. The chance to wrap up their involvement in Group D with a game to spare seemed even more remote when Maksud Karimov poked the hosts ahead from the off.
32' GOAL | Asprilla levels up for @alainfcae ! 1-1! #NASvAIN #ACL2016 pic.twitter.com/kmm5W1u7k4
— AFC Champions League (@TheAFCCL) April 19, 2016
In a repeat of the absent-mindedness which cost them against the Red Knights, a low corner was flicked on by youngster Bobur Abdukhalikov to the unmarked Uzbekistan defender to volley home at the back post. Coach Zlatko Dalic, usually such a placid presence, strode out of the dugout in disgust.
The under-pressure Croatian required an instant reaction. The man who guided the club to the 2014 semi-finals duly received it.
Soon after 12-goal striker Douglas narrowly placed wide, the visitors were level through Asprilla’s eye-catching third goal for the Boss since his winter arrival.
Al Ain’s continental know-how then came to the fore. UAE playmaker Omar Abdulrahman helped take the sting out of a match in which the only other sight of goal came from team-mate Fellipe Bastos’ 35-yard free-kick, which was pushed away on 66 minutes.
Hard work has finally granted the Boss control of their destiny. They cannot afford to let it slip.
