Cosmin wins on return to Al Ain

22:49 23/03/2014
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  • Ferocious encounter: Gyan (r) could not prevent Al Ain from losing to Al Ahli.

    Cosmin Olaroiu made a winning return to Al Ain and the domestic game as a Grafite brace helped Al Ahli secure a 3-2 victory in a pulsating clash at the Hazza bin Zayed Stadium.

    Allowed back onto the bench for the first time in four months in UAE football with his Court of Arbitration for Sport (CAS) appeal pending, the Romanian watched the Brazilian hand his side a two-goal lead early in the second half.

    Asamoah Gyan pulled a goal back from the spot before substitute Ahmed Khalil appeared to have sewn up the win in stoppage time.

    However there was still time for Ismail Ahmed to head home a second for Al Ain, while the centre-back could only nod over from Omar Abdulrahman’s cross deep into injury time.

    It was a breathless ending to a fast-paced and often fractious 90 minutes, and on the balance of play Ahli deserved a win that keeps them six points clear of Al Shabab at the top of the Arabian Gulf League.

    Indeed, it was fitting that Olaroiu would take his place in the dugout for the first time in domestic football at the ground he would have called home had he not left Al Ain last summer.

    And the Romanian was spared the hostile reception he may have expected at the Hazza bin Zayed Stadium with the away bench located in front of media and Ahli VIPs.

    It may have been different had been asked to turn left instead of right at the end of the tunnel but as it was Olaroiu was met by only a smattering of boos.

    That would change during a first-half that saw his side take a firm grip on the game though.

    There had been just one goal in 180 minutes of action between the sides this season prior to last night, but it took Hugo Viana less than two minutes to fire a warning shot for the visitors.

    Ismail Al Hammadi saw an early penalty appeal waved away before his effort from a Viana corner was diverted to safety. Majed Hassan also threatened with a dipping drive from 20 yards.

    Yassine El Ghanassy was the hosts’ brightest spark but as the half wore so did the frustration of the Belgian and Ghana striker Asamoah Gyan as their side continued to fall flat.

    And when their visitors took the lead, it was no real surprise. A rapid counter attack down the Red Knights’ right-hand side freed full-back Abdulaziz Haikal into the box, where he was brought down by Boss goalkeeper Khalid Essa.

    The former Al Jazira man was booked by referee Yaqoub Al Hammadi before Grafite stepped up to confidently fire Ahli into the lead from 12 yards.

    If his first goal was straight forward then his second was impossible to miss. Less than two minutes after the break, Viana’s corner bobbled into Grafite’s path and from all of two yards he bundled it in.

    It was not the start to the second half the hosts would wanted but it seemed to shake them into life.

    Ibrahim Diaky had a volley deflected behind for a corner, while the introduction of Mohamed and Omar Abdulrahman sparked their attacking play. But Ismail Ahmed appeared to have squandered their chance of getting back into the game as he headed over unmarked from eight yards with 22 minutes remaining.

    That, though, was before referee Al Hammadi awarded a second penalty, this time to the Boss, for an innocuous looking challenge from goalkeeper Saif Yousif on Ismail Ahmed.

    Coming seconds after Ismail Al Hammadi was booked while being substituted it brought sarcastic applause from Olaroiu but Gyan had no problems dispatching from the spot.

    And with the mood in the ground lifted, the Boss went on the attack. Gyan tumbled under pressure from Salmeen Khamis but saw his penalty appeals turned away and in the final 10 minutes the pressure on the Ahli goal became incessant as the heat was turned up.

    With the clock ticking past 90 minutes, Khalil looked to have made the game safe with a calm finish past Essa but that was before Ismail Ahmed almost ruined Olaroiu’s return.

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