Al Ain coach Zlatko Dalic and his players will visit Iran’s Zobahan on Wednesday in Asian Champions League action. Jeffrey E Biteng / The National
Al Ain coach Zlatko Dalic and his players will visit Iran’s Zobahan on Wednesday in Asian Champions League action. Jeffrey E Biteng / The National

Sport

Omar Abdulrahman has ‘trust’ in Al Ain to advance to Asian Champions League quarter-finals

Al Ain need to score against the joint-best defence in the competition, but Dalic is sure they have to talent to progress to the last eight, writes John McAuley.

John McAuley
John McAuley

May 24, 2016

Al Ain face a daunting match against Iran’s Zobahan on Wednesday night for their last-16 second leg as they attempt to progress to the Asian Champions League quarter-finals.

Tough task

Al Ain, the only UAE club to win the tournament, must score in Istafan if they are to stand any chance of qualifying having drawn the first leg 1-1. However, Zobahan are unbeaten in this year’s competition and have the tournament’s joint-best defensive record, conceding three goals in seven matches.

Twin targets

The Zobahan match comes sandwiched between Al Ain’s President’s Cup semi-final victory against Baniyas on Saturday and this Sunday’s showpiece with Al Jazira. Zlatko Dalic’s side are keen to conclude the season on a high after last month surrendering their Arabian Gulf League crown to rivals Al Ahli.

See also:

• Video highlights: Al Ain advance past Baniyas to meet Al Jazira in President's Cup Final

• Al Nasr's Luis Jimenez expects backlash from Tractor Sazi in ACL last-16 tie

All or nothing

“Our season will be judged by these two upcoming matches, so they’re both very important,” Omar Abdulrahman, the Al Ain captain, said. “Winning both will put Al Ain back at their normal place: at the top. It will then be a good season because we won the Super Cup, won the President’s Cup and qualified to the Champions League quarter-finals.”

Bonded by one goal

“The match tomorrow won’t be an easy one, but us players will do our best to come home with a positive result,” Abdulrahman said. “I trust all my teammates. The atmosphere here is like we’re all one family. Everyone in Iran is very close and everyone is in positive mood, and I’m sure this will encourage us to give our all in the match. We hope to come back to the UAE with a good result.”

Message to the fans

“We have nothing to lose ... we’re working together as one team. When we lost the first two matches in the group stages, we all pulled together and we managed to qualify. I hope we do the same thing now.”

jmcauley@thenational.ae

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