Dubai: Defending champions Al Ain got past a gutsy Fujairah by a lone second-half goal to enter the final of the 2007 President's Cup at the Sharjah Club ground yesterday.
Al Ain now await the winners of the second semifinal scheduled later last night between league champions Al Ahli and a resurgent Al Wasl.
Al Ain never had the going early and should thank their luck of scrapping through against the relative unknowns. Fujairah should have been clear by at least three goals in the first half itself, but for some hasty shooting in front of the goal – twice by Mohammad Nasser and once by Dogbe Dodzi Michael.
Weather factor
“We paid for our lapses before the goal,'' said Fujairah's German coach Reinhard Fabisch. “Should we have scored those three goals the game would have been completely different,'' added the 56-year-old coach from Dortmund.
“The weather was a crucial element for us. But I think we did well to get that one goal and the win that goes with it,'' said Al Ain coach Valdir Zenga. “In such games, it is the result that is important,'' he said.
Fujairah looked to be heading towards an upset and came close to scoring in the 15th minute, the hard-working Mohammad Nasser coming close on both occasions.
Nasser's header missed the framework on the first occasion and then Moataz Abdullah stretched fully to thwart a scorching try from the Fujairah striker.
The match-winner came in the 65th minute when Faisal Ali's snap volley off a corner kick found its way past Ali Rabea.
