Al Ain denied win by Lokomotiv in AFC quarters

Abu Dhabi - Al Ain were impressive in the first game of the new season but the blank score line was a cruel reminder of the work remaining for coach Zlatko Dalic

ABU DHABI - Al Ain and Uzbek club Lokomotiv played out a feisty goalless draw in the first leg of the AFC Champions League quarters at the Hazza Bin Zayed Stadium on Tuesday.
Al Ain were impressive in the first game of the new season but the blank score line was a cruel reminder of the work remaining for coach Zlatko Dalic and Co in the second leg.  
After a desperate start to proceedings, Al Ain settled down to play some beautiful game. Playmaker Omar Abdulrahman created chances at will for striker Dyanfres Douglas and Danilo Asprilla kept asking questions from the right wing, but was unable to convert it into goals. The score line would have been different had either of the foreign recruits found target.
In the highly anticipated match, Lokomotiv started the proceedings by testing Al Ain defence through Islom Tukhtakjujaev's strike and Nemanja Janicic's header, both of which were off target.
After the initial moments of scurry, Al Ain found their bearings. And the attacks flowed.
Douglas wasted Al Ain's first chance of the match after failing to convert Lee Myung-Joo pass. It was in the ninth minute that star signing Caio registered his attendance with a brave flung towards the goal but couldn't net Asprilla pass. Al Ain had couple of free-kicks near the Uzbek Danger area but the skipper couldn't find his range. It was blissful watch when 'Amorry' crisscrossed four Lokomotiv players to land a pass to Douglas, who again failed to find the target.
In the 28th minute, Lokomotiv's Sanjar Shaakhmedov tested Khalid Eisa with a long ranger, which was parried away.
In the 40th minute, Caio-Omar-Amer Abdulrahman trio was involved in a corner set piece. Though it didn't reap a goal, it was sign of what to expect later in the game and the season. Al Ain were all over Lokomotiv and the only thing missing at the end of first half was goals.
The second half saw both teams going on the attack. It was end-to-end stuff with both keepers - Khalid Eisa and Ignatiy Nesterov - being kept on their toes.
Things weren't going Al Ain way, especially with poor finishing and soon changes were ordered by Dalic.
Douglas miserable run ended with the 70th substitution. In came Mohamed Abdulrahman and he changed the tempo of the game. He was soon engaged in one-two with his brother Omar and the fans were buzzing again. In the 74th minute, Caio missed an attempt on goal and five minutes later Mohamed shot one wide.
Asprilla was guilty of not finishing a well dissected pass from Caio. In the 80th minute, the Colombian had the entire goal to aim and was wayward. Again. 
Al Ain's second change was made as late as 82nd minute when Ibrahim Diaky came in for Caio.
Towards the end, there were flurry of chances being made by Al Ain and many set pieces, all of which didn't bear goals. For Lokomotiv, they kept shape and discipline and ­prevailed on the day.
This result, however, will help the 'Boss' and coach Dalic look positively towards the future. The return leg is on September 13 at the Bunyodkor Stadium in Tashkent.
 
Yellow Card
43 minute Danilo Asprilla (Al Ain)
34 minute Mohammed Fayez (Al Ain)