Zayed Champions Cup: Al Hilal's grand conquest ends and other Etoile du Sahel talking points

Matt Monaghan - Senior Football Writer 21:09 18/04/2019
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    • (Twitter/@UAFAAC).

    Saudi Arabia giants Al Hilal’s dream of an unprecedented clean sweep of trophies was dramatically ended in the 91st minute of Thursday’s Zayed Champions Cup final when substitute Mohammad Methnani swept Tunisia’s Etoile du Sahel to a memorable 2-1 success.

    Watched on by His Highness Sheikh Mohamed bin Zayed Al Nahyan, Crown Prince of Abu Dhabi and Deputy Supreme Commander of the UAE Armed Forces, flamboyant Saudi Arabian adviser Turki Al Sheikh, former Crescent boss Jorge Jesus and Brazil legend Ronaldo at Al Ain’s Hazza bin Zayed Stadium, a drab match of few chances burst into life at the death. A swift move down the right wing saw Tunisia veteran Maher Hannachi produce a second assist of the night, his low cross being superbly swept in first time by Methnani.

    Etoile had gone ahead upon the half-hour mark when Algerian striker Karim Aribi rose highest to nod in a corner. Weary Hilal – who are now more than halfway through a punishing April fixture list that contains nine matches in four different competitions – failed to shine, requiring a questionable penalty from ex-France striker Bafetimbi Gomis to level on 64 minutes.

    Here are the talking points:

    HILAL’S MARATHON MEN

    Hilal’s all-encompassing plan to conquer the Saudi Super Cup, Saudi Professional League, King’s Cup, 2019 AFC Champions League and the ZSC is, definitively, over.

    The onus now rests on head coach Zoran Mamic to ensure more trophies don’t go by the wayside.

    That is if he gets the chance to advance. Less than three months since being poached from Al Ain, the 47-year-old’s position is under severe threat even though the top flight’s lead was reclaimed last weeks.

    Regrets and recriminations could sweep him aside – fairly or unfairly – in the coming days.

    The ex-Croatia international handed a watching brief to the likes of Australia defender Milos Degenek and Italy forward Sebastian Giovinco, amid different foreign eligibility rules.

    A strong side that contained the likes of Brazilian talisman Carlos Eduardo, Al Dawsari, first-choice full-backs and Gomis dominated possession (70 per cent/30 per cent) without turning this into any opportunities of note.

    Their pot shot from midfielder Mohammed Kanno was the best of a dreary first half.

    After the interval, Gomis forced a brave block from goalkeeper Walid Kridene and there was the utterly bizarre sight of a free-kick deep into added time being passed back to unmarked Hilal shot stopper Abdullah Al Mayouf to weakly connect with.

    Could Hilal be running out of steam, or was the ZSC sacrificed for wider ambitions?

    SUPER SAHEL

    Etoile have ruefully taken a back seat to rivals Esperance de Tunis this season.

    They sit a distant third – 10 points behind the pacesetters – in the 2018/19 Tunisian Ligue Professionnelle 1, while they’ve had to settle for a deep run in the CAF Confederations Cup at the same time as their rivals look to claim successive CAF Champions League crowns.

    In Thursday’s match, the guidance of 77-year-old Euro 2000 winner Roger Lemerre was key as they, largely, contained Hilal’s threat in the second half.

    Mali centre-back Mohamed Konate was both a rock and unlucky to see a penalty conceded for his challenge on Saudi Arabia winger Salem Al Dawsari, plus rangy skipper Yassine Chikhaoui utilised all his experience to threaten on the counter-attack.

    This resolute win in the Garden City could now reset the recent order in Tunisian football.

    The $6 million winners’ prize is both the biggest-ever awarded to an Arab side, plus represents a figure close to their annual budget.

    Spend this windfall wisely and a first top-flight crown since 2015/16 could be theirs next term.

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