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Ghana captain Asamoah Gyan scored his side Al Ain’s only goal against
Saudi Arabian team Al Shabab Riyadh to qualify for the quarterfinals of
the Asian Champions League on Wednesday.
Both teams from Group B locked horns at the Prince Faisal bin Fahd
Stadium, with the visitors, Al Ain, aiming to secure a place in the last
eight with a game to spare, while bottom-placed Al Shabab were already
on the verge of elimination.
Shabab, despite signing two Ghanaians – John Antwi and Awal Mohammed –
and employing their third coach of the season, have endured a difficult
season. They are fifth in the Saudi Professional League and have
crashed out of Asian Champions League following their home defeat to Al
Ain.
Gyan fluffed his side’s first clear-cut chance after 35 minutes,
failing to bend a close range effort through a free kick delivered by
Mohamed Abdulrahman.
Al Shabab’s reaction was immediate after Antwi was linked up in Ain’s
box with a through ball from Hassan Muath. But the Ghanaian’s finish
narrowly missed the target.
Al Ain returned from the break with more determination, as men poured
forth in search of goal, which eventually surfaced by the hour mark.
After outpacing two of his markers in the middle of the park, Lee
Myung-joo set up Asamoah Gyan in the box. The Black Star coolly adjusted himself before unleashing his effort past goalkeeper Mohammed Al Owais with aplomb.
Another goal opportunity fell to Gyan minutes later, but as he lunged
for the opposite post unmarked, the offside flag went up to halt the
former Sunderland player, who rued the missed chance to claim a double
for the United Arab Emirates’ outfit.
Al Ain are currently leaders of the group, with a point above second-placed Pakhtakor, who were held to a draw by Naft Tehran.
Gyan finished as top scorer last season with 12 goals to power his
side into the semi-finals. He has however scored only two this season
after a missing several matches due to injuries.
He would have the chance to add to his tally in the final Group B fixture against Naft Tehran on May 6.
Credit: Evans Gyamera-Antwi|Goal.com
