Looking for a makeup at HBZ Stadium, Al Ain loses against Jeonbuk
Al Ain was held yesterday noon to a 1-2 loss by the South Korean Jeonbuk at the first-leg of the 2016 AFC Champions League finals at World Cup Stadium at Jeonju.
Despite cold weather conditions and a hostile venue with 36,158 fans, Al Ain put on a fantastic display throughout the first half. At 63rd minute, the Colombian Danilo Asprilla gave Al Ain a 1-0 lead when he managed a pass from Omar Abdurrahman inside the box to place it with his left foot at the farthest left end of the goal.
The hosts pushed forward for an equalizer and managed to pull themselves back into the game when their Brazilian midfielder Leonardo Pereira flared up a powerful shot in Al Ain’s net garded by Khalid Issa in the 70th minute.
Seven minutes later, Leonardo again scored the go-ahead goal ensuring his side a 2-1 victory. Now, attention is shifted onto the second-leg to be held at Hazza Bin Zayed Stadium next Saturday at 18:25.
