The grey Austrian skies matched the mood of the Al Ain players during their painful 4-0 friendly defeat against Hull City.
Soaked by rain and stretched by opponents who played in the Premier League last term, this was not a game to remember for the dominant force in UAE football.
Much has changed since a third Arabian Gulf League-crown in four seasons was lifted on a roasting Hazza bin Zayed Stadium-night in May. It remains unclear whether this has been for the best after a chastening second-successive warm-up defeat and ineffectual showing from the Boss’ new foreign trio.
The @alainfcae XI: Khalid Essa- Mohamed Fawzi- Mohanad- Ismaeil- Mohamed Fayez- Bastos- Lee Joo- Diakey- Omar Abdulrahman- Babel- Emenike.
— Al Ain FC – EN (@alainfcae_en) July 29, 2015
The game at Worgl Stadium passed by Nigeria striker Emmanuel Emenike, Netherlands winger Ryan Babel and Brazilian centre midfielder Fellipe Bastos just like Sunday’s reversal to Lokomotiv Tashkent. Even more worrying was the sight – now all too familiar – of superstar playmaker Omar Abdulrahman being stretched off injured, an innocuous collision with centre-back Curtis Davies on the hour mark appearing to twist his suspect knees and ankles.
Babel – a replacement for tyro Miroslav Stoch – was removed at half-time without leaving any impression, while loanee Emenike was too isolated up top for his 60 minutes of involvement. Bastos looked livelier, though will need to improve on his incessant shooting from distance.
The substitutions and their timings were undoubtedly pre-determined. But bigger things are expected, especially from Emenike who is carrying the weight of replacing club legend Asamoah Gyan after he was sold at huge profit to Shanghai SIPG.
Dalic will hope more time spent training with new team-mates and minutes on the pitch will see them fit better into his tried-and-tested 4-2-3-1 formation.
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The trio of goals conceded to defenders Michael Dawson and Ahmed Elmohamady (2) were gifts of the kind rarely passed on last term, while forward Calaum Jahraldo-Martin danced alarmingly through for the fourth. Sharpened minds are required for August 15’s Arabian Gulf Super Cup date with Al Nasr.
The Boss had held their own for large swathes of the first half against a side who spent more than £40 million (Dh229.6m) in a failed attempt to avoid top-flight relegation last term. Omar Abdulrahman wasted the best chance as he dallied when clean through, Egypt right-back Elmohamady stealing the ball from his toes.
By that stage, the Tigers had already gone a goal up when England centre-back Dawson poked home when Lee Myung-joo – Al Ain’s only retained non-Emirati – failed to clear a corner.
Convincing win against Al-Ain, the new boys and youngsters look comfortable. Taylors corners a welcome addition after Brady #hcafc
— Hull City News (@Hull_City_News) July 29, 2015
The misery was compounded in a disastrous spell once play resumed after the break, two identikit goals conceded to the effervescent Elmohamady. A quick free-kick found the Boss defence asleep for him to deflect in from close range, the ex-Sunderland man then being found all alone on the back post to head across goalkeeper Khalid Essa.
Already weakened by a raft of substitutions, the final goal was a beauty. Jahraldo-Martin proved too quick for the youngsters who faced him, racing from the halfway line to score with an excellent low shot.
Great performance by City. Great game to watch #hcafc pic.twitter.com/jreqLWkVNN
— Matthew Wilson (@MDJW_HCAFC) July 29, 2015
