Defeat was a second inside a week for the Boss against the Soldiers, who marched to the top of Group D.
Impressive Moroccan forward Abderrazak Hamdallah’s early second half goal set the hosts on their way, with substitute Yasser Essa’s effort 11 minutes from time rendering Saeed Al Kathiri’s late strike inconsequential.
The loss leaves the UAE side bottom of the group with zero points, three adrift of Nasaf and Al Ahli Jeddah, the Uzbekistan side reversing last week’s 2-1 defeat in Saudi Arabia with an identical scoreline at home.
The reigning Arabian Gulf League champions dominated the first half but were made to pay for their profligacy in front of goal three minutes into the second period.
Fellipe Bastos’ cross-field pass was miscontrolled by defender Fawzi Fayez, although Hamdallah still had plenty to do collecting the ball just inside Al Ain’s half.
He ran at the defence, using Sardor Rashidov as a decoy, selling a wonderful dummy to UAE centre-back Mohanad Salem before arrowing a low drive across a rooted Khalid Essa just inside the far post.
The goal had come against the run of play after the visitors, who settled into the game after a bright opening from the hosts, took control of the first 45 minutes.
Omar Abdulrahman, Fayez and Lee Myung-joo were all involved as Brazilian Bastos skewed horribly wide from distance in the early exchanges.
Abdulrahman’s elder sibling Mohammed was prominent in Al Ain’s attacking play, toeing over after tricking two defenders before he got on the end of a delightful Bastos long ball but fired straight at Soldiers’ custodian Khalifa Ababacar.
Bastos then missed a guilt-edged chance to break the deadlock, Salem heading Omar Abdulrahman’s deep corner back across goal, Bastos somehow nodding wide from four yards with the goal gaping.
South Korean international Lee also dragged a shot across the face of goal and Douglas just failed to reach a sublime Omar Abdulrahman pass as the visitors took control.
Al Ain's remaining AFCCL fixtures
- (H) Al Ahli - March 16
- (A) Al Ahli - April 5
- (A) Nasaf - April 19
- (H) Nasaf - May 3
They were shell-shocked just after the restart though when Hamdallah struck and from there, the hosts stamped their authority on the game.
The boss were lucky to escape unpunished in the 73rd minute when Rashidov was brought down by Essa, but the referee mistakenly pointed for a goal kick.
They would not get completely off the hook though, Hamdallah again instrumental in the hosts’ second, tricking two Al Ain players on halfway before playing a one-two and crossinf for replacement Isa, who rounded Essa and tucked into an empty net.
Two substitutes combined to give the Boss a lifeline with four minutes to go, Saeed Al Kathiri heading in Rashed Essa’s pin-point delivery, but the hosts held on, while the visitors’ Champions League hopes are left hanging by a thread.