'Amazing' Al Ain deserve place in ACL final after overcoming Al Hilal, says Hernan Crespo

Hernan Crespo praised the “personality” and “courage” of his Al Ain players after the UAE club defeated Saudi Arabian rivals Al Hilal to reach the Asian Champions League final.

Al Ain, the only Emirati side to capture the continental crown, triumphed 5-4 on aggregate in the semi-final despite losing 2-1 in Tuesday’s second leg in Riyadh.

Hilal, record four-time Asian champions, had a two-goal deficit to overturn at Kingdom Arena, and got off to the perfect start when Ruben Neves scored on four minutes from the penalty spot.

Al Ain quickly equalised on the night through full-back Erik, only for Salem Al Dawsari’s strike five minutes into the second half to breathe life back into Hilal’s comeback.

However, a combination of wayward finishing from the hosts and a man-of-the-match display from goalkeeper Khalid Essa – Al Ain did have two goals ruled out late on – ensured the 2003 champions reached a fourth continental final – and first since 2016.

They will face in the showpiece either Japan’s Yokohama F Marinos or Ulsan HD of South Korea, who meet on Wednesday. Ulsan are 1-0 up from the first leg.

Speaking in the aftermath of Al Ain’s huge aggregate victory, Crespo said: “We always need to say thank you for the players, congratulations for the players. They believe, they work hard, they fight, and they deserve to go through. There are great people working very hard in Al Ain and they deserve this moment. I’m very happy to be part of it.”

In his debut season at the club, Crespo has guided Al Ain past Cristiano Ronaldo’s Al Nassr in the quarter-finals and then a Hilal side containing the likes of Neves, Yassine Bounou, Sergei Milinkovic-Savic, Malcom and reigning AFC Player of the Year Al Dawsari.

Final Awaits.. @alainfcae