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Al Ain staring at Champions League elimination after Hilal humbling
In just 10 minutes of shocking second half chaos Al Ain conceded three goals, suffered a red card and were forced to watch in horror as their AFC Champions League hopes unravelled at the hands of ruthless Al Hilal who romped to an imposing 3-0 semi-final, first-leg lead.
The Boss were rattled from the start at the fervid 60,000-plus capacity King Fahd Stadium in Riyadh, the woodwork saving them twice in the first half as Thiago Neves struck an over-hit corner and Nasser Al Shamrani flicked onto the post.
But there was to be no escape after the break for the travellers. Months of detailed pre-season work was undone from the hour-mark by a dishevelled defence now being breached with alarming regularity.
Livewire striker Al Shamrani struck a brace to end the night on nine ACL goals this term, while the crafty playmaker Neves recovered from a missed penalty, which saw goalkeeper Khalid Essa dismissed, to strike a killer blow with the third.
Al Ain have rebounded and recovered since coach Zlatko Dalic’s appointment in March.
But this was the return of nightmares for the Croatian, heading back to the club with whom he lifted the Crown Prince Cup last year.
Dalic must work miracles once more against opponents boasting eight-consecutive ACL clean sheets when the sides meet again at the Hazza bin Zayed Stadium on Tuesday, September 30.
Quiet nights for star duo Omar Abdulrahman, who registered a 41 per cent pass completion, and Asamoah Gyan came at the worst possible time.
The Ghana international had the Boss’ only real chance in the match, this coming in the opening exchanges with a stinging shot from 25 yards.
Hilal seemed quicker, more alert. Their extra intensity saw cracks emerge in the final moments of the first half. A harrowing finale for Al Ain featured playmaker Neves being fortunate to strike the crossbar from a set-piece.
He then exhibited his true class to play a lightning one-two with Al Shamrani as the dog-legged Al Ain defence was circumvented, only for the far post to come to their rescue.
Few lessons were learned at the break.
Ismail Ahmed, usually a colossus for club and country, was clumsily bypassed outwide by Al Shamrani on the hour before the striker supplied a rocket of a finish from an acute angle that hammered in off the woodwork. Cool heads were no longer prevailing. Saudi Arabia’s Shamrani slid in on the line moments later, with worse to follow straight after kick-off as visiting goalkeeper Essa was dismissed after upending the on-rushing Nawaf Al Abed.
Replacement Dawoud Sulaiman heroically repelled Neves’ effort low to his right but this glimmer of hope was soon snuffed out, the seven-times capped Brazil international making the most of more mayhem to calmly slot in a decisive-looking third just 10 minutes after the capitulation has begun.
A truly rousing night, unlike any seen before at the still-glisteningly new Hazza, is now required. They have to bank on early goal eliciting similar self-destruction.
