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Arabian Gulf League title beckons for Al Ain after victory at Al Nasr
It is amazing how much can change in three minutes. In that spell towards the end of the first half, Al Ain went from nervous pacesetters to Arabian Gulf League champions elect.
Anxiety had crept in to the Boss since the Arabian Gulf Super Cup loss to Al Ahli was followed soon after by Tuesday’s AFC Champions League draw with Pakhtakor.
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Questions had begun to be asked of their acumen. Would the long-term leaders stumble at the death?
This view paid no respect to their achievements since coach Zlatko Dalic arrived midway through last season, goals from Omar Abdulrahman and Jires Kembo Ekoko securing a valuable come-from-behind triumph at Al Nasr.
A seven-point lead is their reward with four matches left, second-placed Al Jazira facing an Abu Dhabi derby against Al Wahda tonight for their game in hand.
“I told my player’s this game would be key for the league today, but we’ll see - we have four games left,” said Dalic.
“We played a fantastic game. We conceded a goal very early, but didn’t lose confidence, our head, nothing.”
There was little sign of what was to come at the start. Al Ain looked every inch a weary side battling for silverware on several fronts.
The hosts punished this lethargy on 20 minutes through skipper Brett Holman’s inventive back-heeled finish. Striker Ibrahima Toure provided the assist to the former Australia midfielder, leaping highest to nod invitingly from a Pablo Hernandez corner.
Such moments make Nasr’s failure to discuss new terms on the 31-year-old’s imminently-expiring contract baffling.
Dalic hung his head at the concession, feeling second-placed Jazira’s breath on his neck. The Croatian had no reason to worry.
Apply the lightest of pressure on the sinking Blue Wave and they concede, the joy of their Arabian Gulf Cup triumphing leading to subsequent apathy. Asian qualification is now a distant dream, just 11 points being gained from 27 since the trophy was gained.
“All these latest results in the league mean we stay far away from the fourth position,” Nasr boss Ivan Jovanovic bemoaned. “We have four games still to play, football is like this, we have to give our best until the end in these remaining four games.”
Star dust from UAE playmaker Omar Abdulrahman was all over the leveller. He nutmegged centre-back Ali Al Ameri before toepoking in while falling for just the second AGL strike of an injury-disrupted campaign.
Three minutes later the visitors went ahead in eye-catching fashion. A beautiful interchange of passes played in Jires Kembo Ekoko, ailing Asamoah Gyan’s stand-in firing home his second goal in a week.
The Boss were professionalism personified after the break, shutting down the action. There was even time for star striker Gyan to get a much-needed 20-minute run out, a lingering quadriceps problem restricting his involvement.
This felt like a significant hurdle being passed, only presentable fixtures remain. A third title in four seasons surely beckons.
