A calamitous defensive error robbed Al Ain of a priceless victory as Zob Ahan escaped with a draw and their unbeaten AFC Champions League record intact.
Douglas’ early opener at a fervent Hazza bin Zayed Stadium reflected the Boss’ first half dominance but their failure to build on that momentum was to cost them dear.
Mohammad Abbasi’s weak header sparked panic between defender Ismail Ahmed and goalkeeper Khalid Essa, bobbling home for a potentially-vital 76th minute away goal to ensure his side will start as favourites to progress to the quarter-finals next week.
The Boss are finding their feet in this season’s ACL after a stuttering start, which saw them lose their opening two games, and they gained further confidence as a thunderous start was rewarded by a ninth minute opener.
Danilo Asprilla was instrumental, teasing Zob left-back Hashem Beikzadeh and crossing for Mohamed Abdulrahman whose shot was brilliantly blocked on the line by right-back Ali Hamam.
The rebound fell kindly for Lee Myung-joo, who could not quite believe that another superb intervention from Hamam saw the ball deflected behind Zob’s respite was brief. They failed to clear the resulting corner and Brazilian striker Douglas was deadly from six yards as he stabbed in Ismail Ahmed’s volleyed cross.
Colombian speedster Asprilla was torturing Beikzadeh and another good run should have seen the Boss take charge. He cut the ball back to Mohamed Abdulrahman, who saw his shot flicked onto the bar by a brilliant Mohammadrashid Mazaheri fingertip save.
The visitors had arrived in the Garden City on the back of a flourishing group stage showing, Yahya Golmohammadi’s side boasting the best record of all 32 teams.
They stormed into the knockout rounds with 14 points and were one of just two teams – alongside
Uzbekistan’s Lokomotiv Tashkent – to not lose a game.
The Crocodiles were much improved in the second half as they snapped into life, though their equaliser arrived in hugely fortuitous circumstances.
A hopeful ball was pumped into the box and Abbasi’s tame header confused Ahmed and Essa, a nick off the UAE centre-back leaving his club and international colleague clutching at thin air and the visitors grasping a lifeline.
Douglas directed a late header over as the game petered out, with Al Ain left to wonder exactly how they hadn’t won.