FOOTBALL – Holders Al Ain slumped out of the Asian Champions League Elite yesterday as the side from the UAE lost 2-1 to Qatar’s Al Rayyan to end their hopes of a place in the last 16 with one round of group games remaining.
Second-half goals from Mahmout Trezeguet and Roger Guedes saw Al Rayyan fight back from going behind to Alejandro Romero’s 42nd minute opener for the home side, who needed to win to harbour any remaining chance of reaching the knockout phase.
The loss was Al Ain’s fifth in seven games and, after Iraq’s Al Shorta drew 1-1 with Esteghlal of Iran in Tehran, the reigning champions sit bottom of the 12-team table on two points.
Al Shorta’s draw with Esteghlal, which came as Rewan Amin cancelled out Joel Kojo’s fourth minute opener for the Iranian hosts, keeps the Iraqis’ slim chances alive until today, when Persepolis take on Al Hilal and Al Gharafa play Pakhtakor.
The league phase in west Asia has been dominated by clubs from Saudi Arabia and that continued on Monday as Al Ahli handed Qatar’s Al Sadd a 3-1 defeat to remain in first place while third-placed Al Nassr won 4-0 against Al Wasl of the UAE.
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