Al Ain blank Shabab Al Ahli to enter President's Cup final

Al Ain's Ismail Ahmed (right) vies for the ball against Shabab Al Ahli's Ante Erceg during semifinal match of the Preident's Cup held at Mohammed bin Zayed Stadium in Abu Dhabi.

A ruthless Al Ain drubbed Shabab Al Ahli Dubai 6-0 in the UAE's President's Cup semifinal at the Mohammed bin Zayed Stadium in Abu Dhabi on Wednesday.
Al Ahli failed to find a way to respond as the 'Boss' kept slapping goals. It was an impeccable display of skill and execution of plans by the newly crowned Arabian Gulf League champions.
Al Ain players had good appetite for goals and first one came as early as fourth minute. There were five black shirts and keeper Majed Naser in the penalty area but they couldn't prevent the goal.
Naser had managed to check advances made by Al Ain striker Marcus Berg but the Swede passed onto an unmarked Caio, who delivered with a low volley.
Four minutes later, Al Ain doubled Al Ahli's agony. It was a sublime chip into the box by Omar Abdulrahman over a host of Al Ahli players was met by Hussein El Shahat, who slipped through the defence to net a fine header past the keeper. The assistant referee initially ruled it an offside but video technology confirmed the goal. It was another goal which left Al Ahli defence in poor light.
Tempers flared following a challenge between Al Ahli's Ismail Al Hammadi and Al Ain's Tsukasa Shiotani. Al Hammadi was treated for a cut on the top of his right eye but there was no foul given adding to Al Ahli players' frustration.
Al Ahli tried to reply through a goal but Diop missed the mark with his diving header. There were more chances to score but Al Ahli strikers failed to the find target.
After being generous in the first half, three players were booked in a space of five minutes after the break. Two bookings at either end resulted in two top-notch free-kicks from the edge of the box but no goals were scored.
At stroke of an hour, Rayan Yaslam replaced El Shahat. And in the 64th minute, Al Ain added to their tally to make it 3-0. Video Assistant Referee found Hassan Ibrahim had fouled Berg and the Swede coolly deposited the ball into the right corner.
Just 10 minutes later, the combination of Omar-Yaslam-Berg-Caio toyed with Al Ahli defenders to make it 4-0. Caio easily tapped the ball in as Al Ahli players looked on haplessly.
The mayhem continued as Ahmed Khalil was fouled inside the box. The Emirati striker himself converted the spot kick. There was no end to Al Ahli's misery as Bandar Al Ahbabi made it 6-0 with his efforts in additional time.
ashwani@khaleejtimes.com