Abu Dhabi: Al Ain will “give everything” to beat Iran’s Zob Ahan and stay in the Asian Champions League (ACL) from 8pm (UAE time) on Monday, according to Garden City boss Zoran Mamic.
Last year’s losing finalists are currently second in Group C, one point behind the Iranians, with two games remaining.
Defeat away in Esfahan would knock them out of the competition if group leaders Al Ahli of Saudi Arabia also win away to Uzbekistan’s Bunyodkor.
If Al Ahli lose, Al Ain would need victory in their last game at home to Bunyodkor on May 8, while hoping Al Ahli lose at home to Zob Ahan.
In their previous group game together in February, Al Ain drew 1-1 with Zob Ahan at home. Last year they also beat the same side 3-1 on aggregate in the Last 16, on their way to losing to South Korea’s Jeonbuk Motors in the final. But now Zob Ahan could get ultimate revenge.
“The second from last match is very important and can decide the result of the group,” said Mamic. “We know Zob Ahan are a well organised side with lots of good players, so we have to be at our highest level to survive — we will give everything.”
Mamic’s men have won just one game in the last five matches, drawing at home to Saudi’s Al Ahli two weeks ago in the ACL, before a 4-3 defeat away to Al Wasl in the Arabian Gulf League (AGL).
It was a dip in form that put both their current ACL campaign, and hopes of qualifying to next year’s tournament, in serious jeopardy; leaving the club both third in their ACL group and fourth in the AGL, two points behind Al Wasl with three games to go. Only the top three in the AGL qualify to the ACL.
“The last few games we’ve had hard luck,” added the Croatian. “Against Zob Ahan we will need luck, but we are also ready to fight for three points to make our lives a little easier.”
Zob Ahan come into this game on a run of three wins across all competitions and have the advantage of not just being at home, but also above Al Ain in the table.
As a result, Mamic said that last year’s Last 16 aggregate win over the Iranians was no indication of what might happen in this game. “You can’t compare, each match is very different,” he said.
“Our biggest problem has been in defence. We are missing two UAE national team players [Mohammad Ahmad and Mohammad Fayez], who have been out a long time with injury and that’s a big problem but we cannot change the situation, we have to do the best with what we have. Zob Ahan have very good individuals going forward who we will need to cover.”
Elsewhere on Monday, fellow Abu Dhabi side Al Wahda play Qatar’s Al Rayyan at home from 7.35pm, but The Clarets are all but out of the tournament, bottom of Group D and six points off a necessary second place finish with two games remaining.
