Al Ain v Yokohama: UAE club must overcome pressure of history to win ACL final

Chasing a first Asian Champions League crown since 2003, Al Ain find themselves in practically the same situation as they did in 2016.

Just like their last appearance in the continental final, the UAE club go into the home second leg trailing 2-1. As was the case in 2016, Al Ain need to overturn the result on their own patch having registered the opening goal of the showpiece in east Asia.

Nearly a decade on and facing the most important match in UAE club football since, come Saturday, they will be hoping for an altogether different outcome.

Eight years ago, when burnished with a soon-to-be Asian Player of the Year, Al Ain were defied in the second leg in the Garden City and eventually defeated.

The hosts, led then by current Croatia manager Zlatko Dalic, conceded first to South Korea’s Jeonbuk Hyundai Motors, a heaving Hazza bin Zayed Stadium rocked, their team’s chances of finally claiming the trophy suddenly retreating.

Al Ain did rally, midfielder Lee Myong-joo equalising in an instant, hopes rekindled. But Omar Abdulrahman would never stamp his authority on the encounter, Douglas sent a penalty high into the desert sky, and Al Ain’s aching wait rumbled on.

The draw ensured Jeonbuk prevailed 3-2 on aggregate. If Al Ain had not been as close in an age to landing the continent’s lead club crown, they left feeling never as far from it.

The malaise lingered. Al Ain reached the quarter-finals the following year, but in their four Champions League qualifications thereafter, they failed to progress as deep into the tournament.

Twice they exited at the group stage; in 2021, their most recent participation until this year, they were roundly beaten by Iran’s Foolad in the play-off, banished from the competition before it