Al Ain v Yokohama: Final conjures memories of Omar Abdulrahman and what might have been

It was figured to be Omar Abdulrahman’s crowning club glory.

Al Ain were one match from becoming kings of the continent for the second time in their history, the UAE’s sole Asian Champions League winners set to emulate that vaunted class of 2003.

As captain and principal protagonist, Abdulrahman was expected to not only deliver the trophy Al Ain coveted above all else, the title they had chased through a generation and more, but deliver on his billing, too.

Abdulrahman had been the tournament’s standout. From 12 appearances until the final, he was named man of the match eight times, however much import can be attached to that.

In the quarter-finals, Abdulrahman led Al Ain through a testing night in Uzbekistan against Lokomotiv Tashkent, if not quite with his ability on the ball, but his gumption to galvanise. With his team 1-0 up at half time and on aggregate also, Abdulrahman gathered his teammates in a huddle on the pitch before heading to the dressing room and rallied the troops. Al Ain won through, Caio Lucas’ goal enough.

After the semi-final first leg, following another dominant display in a 3-1 victory that included a converted free kick either side of two assists, beaten El Jaish manager Samri Lamouchi labelled Abdulrahman “absolutely the best player in Asia”.

“He is an unbelievable player,” Lamouchi continued. “I love him a lot, but it’s not only me. All coaches want a player like him. Because he fights with heart, and he is also a very nice playmaker with an amazing left foot.”

In the return match in Qatar, Abdulrahman struck the opening goal in a 2-2 draw that sealed Al Ain’s return to the final for the first time in 11 years. Of Al Ain’s five goals across the tie, Abdulrahman had a direct hand in four. Even