Late Al Ain Flurry Ends City’s Hopes
Words: ACFC Media
Monday 23 September 2024
Picture: FIFA
AL AIN, United Arab Emirates - Asian Champions Al Ain scored three late goals, including two in injury time, to shatter Auckland City FC’s FIFA Intercontinental Cup hopes with a 6-2 victory at Hazza Bin Zayed Stadium.
Despite the evening kick-off, the visitors have struggled in the stifling conditions and the home side capitalised on their home ground advantage to race to a two-goal lead.
Fabio Cardoso set the tone, heading home the opener in the sixth minute.
Just five minutes later, Gassama Sekou Baba doubled Al Ain's advantage with a brilliant low drive from outside the box.
After a slow start he Navy Blues have managed to find their footing and Jerson Lagos made it 2-1 with his corner-kick deceiving everyone before hitting the net.
But the hosts responded just minutes later, with Matias Palacios restoring his side's two-goal cushion with a delicate chip over Tracy from close range to end the opening half.
Auckland City started the second half with renewed confidence with Myer Bevan netting to make it 3-2 following a neat pass from Gerrard Garriga inside the box at the end of some intricate link-up play between Lagos and Ryan De Vries.
With a little over 10 minutes on the clock, and the game in the balance, the Asian Champions flexed their muscles as the impressive Soufiane Rahimi finished with a clinical header.
Tong Zhou came agonisingly close to reduce the deficit once again with a superb free-kick, forcing Khalid Eisa into great save, before Kaku put the result beyond any doubt with a thunderous strike in injury time.
And there was still time for Rahimi to grab his second, and his side’s sixth goal of the night, to end the tiring Navy Blues’ FIFA Intercontinental Cup hopes.
Ends
MATCH DETAILS
FIFA Intercontinental Cup 2024™
Hazza Bin Zayed Stadium, UAE
Al Ain FC: 6 (Fábio CARDOSO 6′, Sékou Baba GASSAMA 11′, Matias PALACIOS 45+1′, Soufiane RAHIMI 78′, 90+4′, KAKU 90+2)
Auckland City FC: 2 (Jersos LAGOS 43’, Mayer BEVAN 54’)
HT: 3-1
AC 1-Conor TRACEY (GK), 2- Mario ILICH (c) 3- Adam MITCHELL, 7. Mayer BEVAN, (9-Angus KILKOLLY 71’), 8-Gerard GARRIGA, (22-Tong ZHO 80’), 11-Ryan DE VRIES, (20- Derek TIEKU 84’), (6- Kailan GOULD 84’), 13-Nathan LOBO, 16-Joe LEE, 17. Jerson LAGOS, (19-Yuki AIZU 80’), 25- Michael DEN HEIJER, 27-Stipe UKICH
SUBS NOT USED: 4-Christian GRAY, 5. Marco LORENZ, 15- Aston BURNS, 21- Adam BELL,, 23- Alfie ROGERS, 24-Nathan GARROW (GK)
COACH: Albert RIERA
ASSISTANT COACH: Ivan VICELICH
GK COACH: Enaut ZUBIKARAI
TECHNICAL: Adria CASALS
LOGISTICS: Keith COTON
PHYSIO: Matt PAYNE
NATIONAL LEAGUE CHAMPIONSHIP R4
Sun 20 October 2024, v Western Suburbs, Endeavour Park, 1.30pm
Player Profiles
Table
| Position | P | W | D | L | F | A | Pts | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 |  | AC | 3 | 2 | 1 | 0 | 5 | 2 | 7 |
| 2 |  | NC | 3 | 1 | 2 | 0 | 7 | 3 | 5 |
| 3 |  | WP | 3 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 5 | 3 | 4 |
| 4 |  | WO | 3 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 4 | 2 | 4 |
| 5 |  | CS | 3 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 7 | 6 | 4 |
| 6 |  | BU | 3 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 7 | 7 | 4 |
| 7 |  | CT | 3 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 5 | 5 | 4 |
| 8 |  | ES | 3 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 5 | 6 | 4 |
| 9 |  | WS | 3 | 1 | 0 | 2 | 7 | 9 | 3 |
| 10 |  | WE | 3 | 0 | 1 | 2 | 3 | 12 | 1 |
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