Abu Dhabi: Al Ain topped the Group C of the AFC Champions League by thrashing eliminated Uzbek side Bunyodkor 3-0 at the Hazza Bin Zayed Stadium yesterday.
Nassir Al Shamrani put Al Ain in the lead with a first half strike while Omar Abdul Rahman and Ibrahim Diaky completed the tally with a goal apiece in the second.
With this win, Al Ain having already qualified for the round of 16, now have completed their group engagements with 12 points from six outings.
Al Ain was in control of the proceeding right from the start. In the 11th minute, a left-footed effort from Abdul Rahman couldn’t beat the outstretched hands of Bunyodkar goalkeeper Zukhurov. Then in the 21st minute, Brazilian Caio tested Zukhurov with another long ranger after being fed by Abdul Rahman but once again Zukhurov was equally up for the task.
Noticeable move from Bunyodkor came in the 24th minute when Mirjamol Kosimov made a fine run before unleashing a left-footed shot but it had too much elevation and it sailed over the framework.
Few minutes later, Khalid Essa did well to deny Vadim Cemirtan’s goal bound attempt from inside the box.
Thereafter, if any team looked like scoring it was the hosts and they managed to get the breakthrough in the 33rd minute. Abdul Rahman sent in a measured through and Nassir Al Shamrani timed his run to perfection. After sending the lone defender on the wrong with a fine dribble, he unleashed a powerpacked right footer which brushed the hands of goalkeeper Zukhrov before settling into the goal. Then four minutes later, Al Shamrani and Abdul Rahman were involved in a similar act but this time the formers attempt missed the far post by inches.
After the change of ends, the visitors tried to press but were well kept in check by the Al Ain defence. The closest of chance for them came in the 67th minute when Alisher Sanoev took a shot at the goal but it flew over the crossbar.
Al Ain then doubled their lead in the 77th minute through a free-kick. Abdul Rahman showed his class by curling the ball in to the goal, leaving the Bunyodkor goalkeeper rooted.
Then two minutes into the injury time, Diaky hammered a low header off an assist from Abdul Rahman following a corner to make it 3-0.
In another encounter, Al Wahda’s any hopes of taking further part in the tournament was sealed after they lost their last fixture against Iran’s Persepolis 4-2.
Mehdi Taremi scored a hat-trick and Soroush Rafiei completed the tally for the winners. For Al Wahda, Mohammed Al Akberi and Sebastian Tagliabue score a goal apiece. With the win, the Iranian side progressed to the Round of 16 behind Saudi Arabia Al Hilal.