Dubai: Al Ahli and Al Ain played out a goalless draw in the first leg of their last-16 AFC Champions League encounter on Wednesday.
After going into the match as favourites due to their greater experience in this continental competition, Al Ain will still hold the advantage when the return leg is held on home turf on May 27.
With home support in their favour, it was Al Ahli showing early initiative while pressing for a breakthrough. In the tenth minute, Habib Fardan saw himself in front of goal with a deflection at his feet, but the Al Ahli midfielder ballooned over.
A sudden counter in the 18th minute caught Al Ain off-guard and Majid Hassan saw his placed shot scrambled away by goalkeeper Khalid Eisa.
Al Ain retaliated with two clear scoring chances off the next two moves. But it was the Red Knights’ goalkeeper Ahmad Ashoori keeping the home team secure on both occasions. First, Asamoah Gyan shot meekly into his hands and then the shot-stopper flung himself into the air to keep the Ghanaian’s first-time volley at bay.
As the half progressed, Al Ain grew in confidence, and it was Ashoori once again to the rescue on the half-hour mark as he kept out a weak effort from Gyan.
The home side trooped off for half-time with Salmeen Khamis volleying out a clearance off a corner kick.
The second half lacked the intensity of the first, and it was only after the introduction of Oussama Assaidi that things started to happen.
Brought in a minute before the hour, Assaidi weaved his way on the left flank and had a crack on goal that had the direction, but lacked power.
In the 64th minute Jires Kembo-Ekoko sighted the Al Ahli goal but his effort also landed straight into the waiting hands of Ashoori.
The framework came to the rescue of Al Ain when an Esmail Al Hammadi shot in the 75th minute bounced out of play.
With humidity a determining factor, both sides slowed down the pace in the final quarter while relying on the odd counter-attack.
But these seemed to lack purpose as the match ended goalless.
Result
Al Ahli 0 Al Ain 0
