|
|||||||
|
|
|
|||||
|
|
|||||||
|
|||||||
|
|
|
|||||
|
|
|||||||
Goals from captain Salem Jawhar and Mohammed Omar gave United Arab Emirates club Al Ain a 2-0 victory over BEC Tero in the first leg of the Asian Champions League final on Friday.
Al Ain survived a scare in the 22nd minute when BEC forward Worawut Srimaka headed against the crossbar for the Thai visitors.
But Al Ain took the lead in the 38th minute, Jawhar firing home after a neat lay-off from Mohammed Omar.
ADVERTISEMENT
Al Ain manager Bruno Metsu, who led Senegal to the quarter-finals of the 2002
World Cup, was serving a one-match touchline ban after swearing at officials
during the semi-final victory over Chinese club Dalian Shide. Ticketmaster
But the UAE champions hardly missed the Frenchman and almost extended their lead 12 minutes into the second half when striker Rodrigo Fabiano curled a free-kick against the bar.
The task got harder for surprise finalists BEC in the 64th minute as they were reduced to 10 men after Wittaya Nubthong was sent off for a second bookable offence. Ticketmaster
Al Ain duly made their numerical advantage count in the 74th minute as UAE striker Omar met a cross from substitute Faisal Ali to score from close range.
The second leg takes place in Bangkok on October 11.