Al Ain get off to a winning start
Al Ain get off to a winning start
Al Ain: Hosts Al Ain and visiting Spanish club Espanyol scored identical 1-0 victories on the opening day of the ten-day Al Ain International Cup (Under 17) football Championship.
The Al Ain lads snatched victory in a well-contested match against Raja Casablanca from Morocco in the inaugural match played at the Thanoun Bin Mohammad Stadium in Al Ain on Thursday evening.
Hamad Ali Al Merri kept his cool to convert a 20th minute penalty, which proved to be the match winner. The Moroccan side came up with a series of attacks in the second half but the boys in purple did well to hold on to their lead.
Al Ain now take on the African Stars in their next match today and a win will virtually assure them of a last four berth.
The African Stars, who played the second match on Thursday night, went down fighting to the Spanish club. Espanyol struck as early as the eighth minute through their hardworking midfielder Gabriel Lopez. However, though they did enjoy a better share of the exchanges, failed to score.Espanyol take on Raja Casablanca and are likely to clinch their ticket to the semis today.
The UAE under-17 team, Valencia from Spain, Marseille from France and Egypt's Al Ahly are in the other group of the eight-team championship.
Earlier in the evening, Mohammad Khalfan Al Rumaithi, President of the UAE Football Association, along with the Club's Executive Director Dr Khalid Mohammad Abdullah inaugurated the tournament.
The Abu Dhabi Sports Council, the Abu Dhabi Tourism Authority, the Abu Dhabi National Hotels, Al Rayan Investment, etisalat, Sorouh Real-Estate and Emirates Airlines are supporting the annual event.
