Contrary to expectations, Al Ain said good-bye to the AFC Champions League after being held by Al Ahli to a 3-3 draw yesterday evening at HBZ Stadium within 2nd leg of the AFC Round of 8.

Though the first half ended with a 1-0 lead for Al Ain, Al Ahli squared with Al Ain and even managed to add a double score in the second half; a brace by Ahmad Khalil at 53” and 56” and a single goal by Salimin Khamis at 51”. Al Ain also doubled its score by a brace by Asamoah Gyan at 5” and 78” and Rashid Issa at 90”.

The draw was not in Al Ain’s favor; it was eliminated from the AFC tournament; instead, Al Ahli qualified to the quarterfinals following a scoreless first leg with Al Ain. 

Al Ain    3
Goals: Asamoah Gyan, brace at 5th and 78th minutes; Rashid Issa at 90th minute.

Lineup: Khalid Issa, Mohammed Fayez, Mohannad Salem Al Enezi, Ismail Ahmad, Mohammed Ahmad, Hilal Saeed, Lee Muyong-Joo, Ibrahim Diaky, Jirès Kembo, Omar Abdurrahman, Asamoah Gyan.

Substitutions: Miroslav Stoch came on for Jirès Kembo at 55”; Mohammed Abdurrahman for Hilal Saeed at 63”; Rashid Issa for Ibrahim Diaky at 67”.

Yellow Cards: Ismail Ahmad 54”; Hilal Saeed 63”; Ibrahim Diaky 67”.

Red Cards: None.

Al Ahli    3
Goals: Ahmad Khalid, brace at 53rd and 56th minutes; Salmin Khamis at 51st minute.

Lineup: Ahmad Dida, Salmin Khamis, Habib Al Fardan, Walid Abbas, Isamail Al Hammadi, Everton Ribeiro, Ahmad Khalil, Kwon Kyung-Won, Abdul Aziz Haikal, Abdul Aziz Sanqoor, Majid Hassan.

Substitutions: Luis Jiménez came on for Abdul Aziz Sanqoor 46”; Usama Asaidi for Ahmad Khalil 81”; Issa Ahmad for Abdul Aziz Haikal 84”.

Yellow Cards: Ahmad Dida 83”; Luis Jiménez 90”; Isamail Al Hammadi 90”.

Red Cards: None.

Referees
The match was officiated by a crew of Iraqi referees led by Mohannad Qassim assisted by Najah Rahm, 1st Assistant; Muayyad Mohammed, 2nd Assistant; Yaqoub Saeed Abdulla (Oman), 4th Official.