New signing Fellipe Bastos’ stunning free-kick against Al Hilal was not enough to prevent Arabian Gulf League champions Al Ain from falling to a third-successive friendly defeat.
Bastos, 25, became the first summer arrival to open his Boss account but a 25-yard thunderbolt could not prevent a 2-1 loss to opponents who played with 10 men for more than an hour in Austria on Sunday.
Fellow pre-season purchase Ryan Babel was at the centre of the incident which saw defender Abdullah Al Shamikh dismissed, the Netherlands winger being felled from behind.
صور: لاعبو العين يؤدون الحصة التدريبية الصباحية في الغابة الواقعة وسط الجبال بورغل النمساوية. http://t.co/GEigBvmuP4 pic.twitter.com/506Cr7Fl2R
— Al Ain FC (@alainfcae) August 3, 2015
New striker Emmanuel Emenike came within inches of scoring his opening goal, a low effort on 71 minutes rebounding off the post.
The Nigeria international – brought in on loan as replacement for club legend Asamoah Gyan – was denied the services of Omar Abdulrahman, the UAE playmaker left out as a precaution after picking up bruising to his knee in Wednesday’s 4-0 reversal to Hull City.
Zlatko Dalic’s men went ahead through centre midfielder Bastos on 11 minutes, the purchase from Vasco Da Gama showing his lethality from long range.
– AGL to be affected as UAE domestic kick-off is postponed
– AGL: Super Cup forced to change venue due to demand
– Arsenal: Wenger backs Ozil to shine in Premier League
But AFC Champions League quarter-finalists Hilal levelled soon after through winger Mohammad Al Shalhoub’s shot from the edge of the box, a curled effort from midfielder Khaled Kaabi sealing victory on 74 minutes.
The Boss are next in action on Wednesday when they play the final friendly of their Austrian training camp against Xavi’s Al Sadd.
Meanwhile, ex-Argentina coach Alejandro Sabella is reported to have agreed a three-year deal to take over Middle Eastern heavyweights Saudi Arabia.
The Al-Ain Ultras just doing their thing. https://t.co/3WYxzMidBZ
— Ahdaaf (@ahdaafme) August 3, 2015
Sabella, 60, has been out of work since he left La Albiceleste in July 2014 after their World Cup-final defeat to Germany.
Saudi newspaper Al Arabiya announced the former Al Jazira target had agreed to recommence his managerial career with the Green Falcons, who had also spoken to Marcelo Bielsa and Michel Preud’homme.
Saudi Arabia had been led by caretaker Faisal Al Baden since Al Ahli boss Cosmin Olaroiu endured a dismal loan spell in January’s Asian Cup, exiting at the group stage.
