Videos Live Scores Podcasts Opinion Interviews Business of Sport Inside Story Football Cricket Tennis Formula One Golf NBA UFC UAE Racquet Sports Fitness

Al Ain boss Zoran Mamic is targeting trophies now 2018 ACL progression has been earned

Matt Monaghan

21:32 17/04/2018

Al Ain boss Zoran Mamic has warned his side they “have not achieved anything” yet as they look to successfully complete the second part of a pivotal week by adding the Arabian Gulf League’s crown to progression in the 2018 AFC Champions League.

The Boss emphatically made the continental round of 16 for the fifth year in a row when they thrashed Al Rayyan 4-1 during Monday’s one-sided eliminator from Group D. Next up is their pursuit of domestic dominance.

Victory at third-placed Al Nasr on Saturday will guarantee a record-extending 13th top-flight crown and end a trophy drought stretching back to 2015’s Arabian Gulf Super Cup.

“We are looking forward to winning the league title because we have not achieved anything this season,” said Mamic, who joined in February 2017. “After that, we’ll think about the President’s Cup and then we’ll go back to focusing on the AFC Champions League.”

The goals at Doha’s Jassim bin Hamad Stadium came from Egypt midfielder Hussein El Shahat’s tap-in, a fierce free-kick from exiled UAE playmaker Omar Abdulrahman – who is now the club’s joint-top scorer in the ACL with legendary former centre forward Asamoah Gyan on 18 strikes – plus a pair of predatory finishes from Sweden No9 Marcus Berg.

Veteran Qatar target man Sebastian Soria produced a late consolation from close range.

More from arabian-gulf-league

From Morocco to Abu Dhabi: Zakaria El Jamari’s incredible martial arts journey

French-Algerian Anissa Meksen gets chance to be first to claim new ONE Championship gold

Adrian Lee’s ONE Championship debut confirmed as he looks to further family legacy

NBA 3X ABU DHABI an unparalleled success with legends LaMarcus Aldridge and James Worthy in attendance

ONE Friday Fights 59: French-Algerian looks to maintain KO momentum in headliner

New ONE Championship king Alexis Nicolas ready to fight ‘the world’

Most Popular