15 Sept 2006
Abu Dhabi: Al Ain held on for a 2-2 draw to come away unscathed against hosts Al Qadisiya in Kuwait in the first leg of the quarterfinals of the AFC Champions League.
Al Ain, the 2003 champions and last year's runners-up, will host the Kuwaiti champions on September 20 for a place in the last four of Asia's premier event for club football.
However, though Al Ain will be pleased with the two away goals, the way their defence and midfield performed on Wednesday night will certainly be a worrying factor for the team management.
Al Ain went ahead when their Serbian striker Nenad Jestrovic snapped up the first chance the visitors got in the 23rd minute. Put through by Ali Msarri on the left, Jestrovic beat an Al Qadisiya defender and then surprised goalkeeper Nawaf Al Khadli with a crisp shot at the near post.
Al Ain started without injured Brazilian Kelly and the other Brazilian Dodo joined Jestrovic in attack. But their midfield just failed to take control and this allowed the Kuwaitis to build up a series of attacks.
After their star striker Badr Al Mutwa and Khalaf Al Salama missed two easy chances, Al Qadisiya equalised just before the break through Al Salama. The Al Ain defence never looked settled and Al Salama made the most of a melee to head home a rebound off goalkeeper Waleed Salim.
The hosts then shocked the fancied UAE club with a second goal, soon after the break. Following a flag-kick Omani international Fawzi Bashir had a shy at the goal. The attempt found its way to Al Salama who gleefully stabbed the ball home.
After that, Waleed Salim did well to come up with a few gutsy saves as Al Qadisiya grew in confidence. Al Ain also tried to build their moves, but their equaliser came off a goalmouth melee. A free-kick by Subait Khater was parried out. Off the resultant flagkick, Dodo managed to put the ball home. Skipper Fahad Ali limped off to further deplete the Al Ain defence.
In Jeddah, defending champions Al Ittihad beat Al Karama 2-0 and looked set to secure a semifinal date with the winners of the Al Ain-Al Qadisiya match.
Gulf News 2006. All rights reserved.
