Al Ain beat Team Wellington 4-3 in penalties.. The Boss Makes the Ainawi Nation Happy by Qualifying to Quarterfinals
Al Ain achieved a historic victory in their first match in the FIFA Club World Cup held at Hazza bin Zayed Stadium when they came from three goals down to beat the visitors on penalties by 3/4 following the end of extra time with 3 goals each. By this result, Al Ain reaches the second round of the Club World Cup and set up a meeting with CAF Champions League winners Esperance on Saturday 15th December.
Al Ain squad consisted of Khaled Issa, goalkeeper, Ismael Ahmed, Shiotani, Mohammed Ahmed, Mohannad Salem in the back line, Mohammed Abdel Rahman, Tongo Hamed, Ahmed Barman and Caio in the midfield and Jamal Marouf and Hussein El Shahat in front line.
Al Ain did not waste the time and controlled the match since the kick-off whistle, but the visitors surprised Al Ain when Barcia put Wellington in the lead with a long-range shot in the 11th minute. Al Ain tried to level up and Jamal Marouf fired a powerful shot past the post by whiskers. El Shahat took his chances and sent another a powerful shot but hit the crossbar. However, Al Ain defense were again exposed and the visitors doubled their lead with ease through Chapman’s deft shot had all the time in the world to pick his spot after Andy Bevin set him up with a measured through pass. At the 28th minute, Caio celebrated his team’s first goal but the referee denied the goal after taking a close look at the video felt there was a foul in the build-up. Mohammed Abdul Rahman fired a ball but missed the three bars to be a goal kick “34”. At the 38th minute, Zoran Mamic replaced Mohannad Salem by Bandar Al Ahbabi. Then there was another shot from Al Shahat was blocked by Wellington goalkeeper Scott Basalaj. Al Ain exerted high pressure on the visitors in quest of scoring their first goal, but Wellington then piled the misery on Al Ain with Ilich, left unmarked at the far post, tapping home following a corner from Henry Cameron. It took Al Ain only one minute when Japanese midfielder Tsukasa Shiotani raced through the left flank to calmly drive the ball into far corner past the goalkeeper
At the start of the second half, Al Ain stunned Team Wellington by scoring a second goal through the new recruit Tongo Doumbia when Caio split defenders inside the box with his pass and Tongo was at right spot to net “48”. As Diaky replaced Tongo “63”, the match got intense as Al Ain turned to be more active and effective but missed several great chances to score through Caio, El Shahat and Diaky. Caio send a measured shot but hit the post “76”. Finally, and at the 78th minute of the match, Zoran Mamic decided to give the chance for Marcus Berg who was watching the match from the bench. The Swedish striker had two attempts in his first three minutes. And in 85 minutes, Al Ain drew level as Ibrahim Diaky headed in the delivery and supersub Berg swirled it in to make it 3-3.
The First Half of Extra Time
It was quick and strong start as Berg send a measured shot, but the Kiwis goalkeeper palmed it off to be a corner kick “92”. Al Ain exerted high pressure but in no vain.
The Second Half of Extra Time
Al Ain had the upper hand in the second extra half. Caio sent a powerful shot but the goalkeeper was in the right spot and sent it off to a corner kick “105”. Khalid Eisa saved his net at the “115 minute”. Mohammed Abdul Rahman was sent off the pitch with red card in his pocket “120”. Then advantage in the attack by Kayo with a shot around the goalkeeper for the 105th corner. Khaled Issa saved from a goal with a dangerous volley in the 115th minute. Mohammed Abdul Rahman was sent off in the 120th minute. The two teams separated when Al Ain won the penalty kicks when Diaky, Shiotani, Caio and EL Shahat successfully scored to earn a hard victory by 3/4.
Referees:
The match was managed by the Match Referee Japan’s Sato Ryuji, assisted by his countryman lineman Sagara Torre “First Assistant referee” and Yamaymushi Hiroshi, “Second Assistant Referee” and Italia’s Roxi Gianluca as “Fourth Official” and his country man De Libratore Elenito “Reserved Official” and Canada’s, Leis Mizarros “Match Commissioner”.
Fans
The match was attended by 15,279 fans.
