Abu Dhabi: A second-half penalty from Brazilian striker Andre Diaz helped Al Ain lift the President's Cup and keep their dreams of a treble alive while their rivals Al Shabab ended the match with nine men.
The cool strike by Diaz after Essam Dhahi handled the ball inside the box while trying to fend a Shehab Ahmad cross was enough to leave league champions Al Shabab battered and bruised.
In a scrappy final, which saw a number of stoppages due to the tough tackling by both teams, a dull first session turned dramatic in the second half after two Al Shabab players were sent off, while Al Ain coach Winfried Schaefer joined his Shabab counterpart in the stands.
In a more or less evenly contested first half, Al Ain's defence looked shaky while at the other end it was Chilean star Jorge Valdivia who was in the thick of the action, being felled at regular intervals.
His coach protested from the dug-out and was soon ejected.
Valdivia hit the post from a free kick and another attempt by him was wasted by Mussalam Fayez.
Just before the break Hazza Salem was handed a simple tap-in but ballooned the ball from close range. Earlier in the 12th minute Diaz almost scored but just missed the mark.
For Shabab, Brazilian Marcos Asuncao shouldered the midfield and his teasing free-kicks had Al Ain in trouble.
But the midfielder lost his cool soon after Diaz netted his goal and a horrific tackle on Ali Waheebi forced him off for an early shower in the 66th minute.
His skipper Salem Saad joined him on 82 minutes after he lunged at Valdivia -a move that effectively ended his team's hopes.
His Highness Shaikh Mohammad Bin Rashid Al Maktoum, Vice-President and Prime Minister of the UAE and Ruler of Dubai, along with General Shaikh Mohammad Bin Zayed Al Nahyan, Abu Dhabi Crown Prince and Deputy Supreme Commander of the UAE Armed Forces, watched the final.
The Dubai Ruler, who earlier unveiled the new logo of UAE FA, gave away the trophies.
On Monday's win was Al Ain's second trophy in ten days. The former Asian Club champions are currently third in the UAE's inaugural Professional League.
It was the fifth time Al Ain have won the President's Cup.
