AFC Champions League 2024-25: Defending champion Al-Ain crashes out after loss against Al-Rayyan
AFC Champions League 2024-25: Defending champion Al-Ain crashes out after loss against Al-Rayyan
Holder Al-Ain slumped out of the Asian Champions League Elite on Monday as the side from the United Arab Emirates lost 2-1 to Qatar’s Al-Rayyan to end its hopes of a place in the last 16 with one round of group games remaining.
Second-half goals from Mahmoud Trezeguet and Roger Guedes saw Al-Rayyan fight back from going behind to Alejandro Romero’s 42nd-minute opener for the home side, which 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 champion sits bottom of the 12-team table on two points.
Sides finishing in the top eight in the league phase in both west and east Asia progress to March’s knockout rounds.
Al-Ain’s elimination comes nine months after the club claimed the continental crown for the second time, defeating Japan’s Yokohama F Marinos over two legs in the final in May.
But the defence of its title has been shambolic and Al-Ain lost in front of its own fans at the Hazza bin Zayed Stadium after taking the lead on the counterattack through Romero’s curling first-time strike into the top corner.
Trezeguet levelled five minutes into the second half when he controlled Murad Naji Hussein’s cross from the right before slotting beyond goalkeeper Khaled Eisa.
Guedes then took advantage of Al-Ain’s slack defending 15 minutes from time, the Brazilian given the space to allow Adam Bareiro’s throw to roll onto his left foot and slot home.
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 Tuesday 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.
