Al Ain forward Dyanfres Douglas scores through an overhead bicycle kick against Kalba during the first round match of the Arabian Gulf Cup at the Hazza bin Zayed Stadium.
Abu Dhabi - The Boss were given a scare by Kalba in first round of Arabian Gulf Cup
Published: Sat 3 Sep 2016, 3:59 PM
Updated: Sat 3 Sep 2016, 8:16 PM
Football is unpredictable. On paper, Al Ain versus Kalba is a no match. The new boys, however, proved they were no pushovers with a scintillating performance during the first round match of the Arabian Gulf Cup at the Hazza bin Zayed Stadium.
Kalba came back from two first-half goals to go level with a Yasser Abdullah stunner and a Mihai Alexandru long-ranger in the second 45. It was Saeed Al Katheeri's back-heeled last-gasp goal that saved Al Ain on Friday night.
Al Ain coach Zlatko Dalic said the 'serious mistakes' made by the team in the last 30 minutes had put them in an unenviable position.
"We showed absolute control on the game during the first 60 minutes," he said at a Press conference.
Dalic is happy with three points in the bag but told his boys to pull up their socks.
"We need to redouble our efforts during the upcoming matches."
Al Ain have on last two Cup tournaments crashed out in the group stages.
"Our goal in all competitions is to win titles. For a big team like us, we always have to achieve stronger results," he said.
In the round two match of the Cup, the Garden City club take on Arabian Gulf League champions Al Ahli at the Rashid Stadium on Wednesday.
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