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Tribune News Network
Doha
Al Duhail were held to a 2-2 draw in their AFC Champions League Group C match against Al Ain at the Abdullah Bin Khalifa Stadium on Monday.
The Red Knights led by two goals in the first half but failed to see out the game despite controlling majority of the ball. The result means Al Hilal lead the group with six points while Al Duhail are second in with four, tied with Esteghlal.
Al Duhail came out firing and drew two quick saves from Khalid Eisa as Edmilson Junior and Mohammed Musa tested the goalie from long range.
The Red Knights soon took the lead from Karim Boudiaf’s half volley in the ninth minute. Edmilson beat his marker before sending a cross into the box and the midfielder brilliantly stroke home.
Al Duhail were on the attack again and Almoez Ali making his first appearance in the ACL this season failed to connect with Nakajima’s ball over the top which was just inches high.
The Red Knights made it two just after the half hour mark from a swift attack with Yousef El Arabi on the end of it. Musa played a one-two with Boudiaf to create space down the right before picking out El Arabi in the box who made no mistake to slot beyond Eisa.
Jamal Maroof began Al Ain’s comeback in the 36th minute as Al Duhail’s defence was caught napping. A long ball was flicked on in the midfield by Tongo Doumbia which released Maroof who easily thumped past Amine Lecomte.
Boudiaf saw his goalbound header punched out by Khalid from a freekick. Almoez should have scored just before half time but after controlling a lovely side-footed pass from Edmilson on his chest only for his shot to bounce of Khalid’s foot.
In the second half, Al Ain pushed for an equaliser and almost got in in the 53rd minute after Maroof was brought down inside the box by Musa for which the referee awarded a penalty.
However, Lecomte went from hero to villain in five minutes. The former Qatar shot stopper saved the spotkick from Caio but three minutes later, failed to deal with an easy catch from Maroof’s cross which fell to Marcus Berg who tapped in from close range.
The Red Knights dominated possession but Al Ain’s goalkeeper Eisa kept his team in the game, making crucial saves from Nakajima, El Arabi and Almoez as the home team searched for the winner.
Khalid again saved a point for the visitors late in extra time showing good reflexes to parry out a goalbound header.
Al Duhail coach Rui Faria said his team’s mistakes cost them a vital win.
“Everyone saw the match and I said earlier that we had to win but the mistakes made us lose two points and we could have finished the game in the first half. If you make mistakes at this level, you pay the price. We had a lot of opportunities and we could not take them.
“There are a lot of games waiting for us in this competition and we have to get a positive result in our next match if we want to go far,” Faria told the club’s website.
Doha
Al Duhail were held to a 2-2 draw in their AFC Champions League Group C match against Al Ain at the Abdullah Bin Khalifa Stadium on Monday.
The Red Knights led by two goals in the first half but failed to see out the game despite controlling majority of the ball. The result means Al Hilal lead the group with six points while Al Duhail are second in with four, tied with Esteghlal.
Al Duhail came out firing and drew two quick saves from Khalid Eisa as Edmilson Junior and Mohammed Musa tested the goalie from long range.
The Red Knights soon took the lead from Karim Boudiaf’s half volley in the ninth minute. Edmilson beat his marker before sending a cross into the box and the midfielder brilliantly stroke home.
Al Duhail were on the attack again and Almoez Ali making his first appearance in the ACL this season failed to connect with Nakajima’s ball over the top which was just inches high.
The Red Knights made it two just after the half hour mark from a swift attack with Yousef El Arabi on the end of it. Musa played a one-two with Boudiaf to create space down the right before picking out El Arabi in the box who made no mistake to slot beyond Eisa.
Jamal Maroof began Al Ain’s comeback in the 36th minute as Al Duhail’s defence was caught napping. A long ball was flicked on in the midfield by Tongo Doumbia which released Maroof who easily thumped past Amine Lecomte.
Boudiaf saw his goalbound header punched out by Khalid from a freekick. Almoez should have scored just before half time but after controlling a lovely side-footed pass from Edmilson on his chest only for his shot to bounce of Khalid’s foot.
In the second half, Al Ain pushed for an equaliser and almost got in in the 53rd minute after Maroof was brought down inside the box by Musa for which the referee awarded a penalty.
However, Lecomte went from hero to villain in five minutes. The former Qatar shot stopper saved the spotkick from Caio but three minutes later, failed to deal with an easy catch from Maroof’s cross which fell to Marcus Berg who tapped in from close range.
The Red Knights dominated possession but Al Ain’s goalkeeper Eisa kept his team in the game, making crucial saves from Nakajima, El Arabi and Almoez as the home team searched for the winner.
Khalid again saved a point for the visitors late in extra time showing good reflexes to parry out a goalbound header.
Al Duhail coach Rui Faria said his team’s mistakes cost them a vital win.
“Everyone saw the match and I said earlier that we had to win but the mistakes made us lose two points and we could have finished the game in the first half. If you make mistakes at this level, you pay the price. We had a lot of opportunities and we could not take them.
“There are a lot of games waiting for us in this competition and we have to get a positive result in our next match if we want to go far,” Faria told the club’s website.
