Defensive mistakes cost Al Duhail SC dear in 2-2 draw against Al Ain

Doha, Qatar: Al Duhail SC were made to pay the price for poor finishing and defensive mistakes by UAE's Al Ain in a 2-2 draw in an AFC Champions League Group C match at home on Monday.

The Qataris had thrashed Al Ain in the pre-quarterfinal last year, winning 8-3 on aggregate, and it looked like they were running away with the match this time as well when they took a 2-0 lead by the 32nd minute.

But Al Ain, greatly helped by some defensive lapses from Duhail came back through Jamal Mahroof before Swedish striker Marcus Burg took advantage of a howler from goalkeeper Amine Lecomte to make it 2-2.

Duhail were well below par in their last Qatar Stars League game against Al Kharaitiyat, but they got off to a rollicking start against Al Ain at home ground.

Edmilson, who was a constant thorn in Al Ain flesh, effortlessly got into the byline as if he was unmarked, and his deep cross was expertly finished by captain Karim Boudiaf with a suptous volley in the ninth minute.

Duhail dominated possession and created chances plenty but the ease with which Al Ain broke their defence would definitely give coach Rui Faria some headaches.

Their goal was under pressure too easily to Faria’s liking and he was particularly relieved to see the efforts of Marcus Berg and Tongo Doumbia narrowly miss the target midway through the first half.

Meanwhile, Duhail attack-line was working without any problem with Boudiaf and Luis Martin controlling the midfield.

Boudiaf was at the heart of most Duhail moves and he found Edmilson with a splendid long ball in the 21st minute. The Belgian winger’s nimble footwork helped him dance into the Al Ain box and the visitors needed a last-ditch block from Mohnad Salem.

Duhail were their most lethal on the right where Edmilson combined with the likes of El Arabi and Boudiaf and a flowing move through the wing gave the Red Knights their second goal.

Ironically though, Edmilson was not involved this time and instead it was Mohamed Musa, joining the attack for the first time from his right back position after being found by a Boudiaf through pass, who squared the ball for Youssef El Arabi. The Moroccan striker made no mistake from inside the six-yard box and Duhail looked ready for another goal fest at the expense of the Al Ain.

But Duhail’s defensive frailties came back to haunt them and against the run of play they conceded in the 36th minute.

Duhail defence was nowhere in the picture when Jamal Mahroof beat keeper Amine Lecomte with a left footer.

They had a gilt-edged chance in the first half stoppage time to restore their two-goal lead when Edmilson danced his way past Ciao and flicked the ball with the outside of his right boot for Almoez, who did the difficult part of controlling the pass with his chest but his shot was somehow saved by Al Ain goalkeeper Khalid Eisa.

The hosts looked happy to keep their lead rather than secure the match and that ploy seemed to have backfired when they conceded a penalty for a foul by Musa on Maroof in the 54th.

Though Lecomte stopped Ciao’s penalty, with a brilliant dive to his right, he turned from hero to villain within two minutes when he spilt a straightforward cross from the right from Maroof allowing a lurking Berg to pounce with a simple tap in.

Duhail desperately tried for a winner, but poor finishing from their attackers and some brilliant shot-stopping from Eisa made sure the match ended in a draw.

Eisa was superb under the bar and denied the likes of Almoez, El Arabi and Edmilson more than once.

With Duhail going all out for a winner, Eisa needed to be on his toes right till the end and a fingertip save to stop Medhi Benatia’s header from going in right at the end told the story of the match.

Duhail now have four points from three matches.