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A Kodjo Laba strike was the difference as Al Ain FC emerged 1-0 winners against Al Nassr in a cagey affair on Matchday Six of the 2020 AFC Champions League’s Group D on Thursday.
The previous match between the two sides took place on Matchday Two, when Al Nassr took the three points at the Hazza bin Zayed Stadium after a 2-1 win.
Laba opened the scoring after 19 minutes, after Ali Al Ajami attempted to clear Bandar Al Ahbabi’s slightly deflected corner but hit the Togolese striker instead and the ball bounced off him and into the net.
Just a little over half an hour, the UAE side almost doubled their lead when Al Ahbabi played a cheeky pass to Laba, who in turn cut back to Ahmed Barman, and the midfielder fired away from range but his shot marginally missed the target.
Al Nassr’s first chance came through Mukhtar Ali, who had scored in the previous fixture between the two sides, but his shot was high and wide from outside the area.
The Saudi Pro league side came closer to scoring in the second half via a free-kick after Mohammed Shaker fouled Abdulrahman Al Dawsari, which Osama Al Khalaf curled from outside the area but grazed the side netting.
Al Ain’s Khaled Eissa was in the thick of action less than 20 minutes from time when Al Khalaf received a ball from Ayman Yahya, then tested the Emirati keeper from outside the area but his starting position put him in good stead as he comfortably parried away.
The result left Group D as it was before the final round of games, with Al Nassr finishing at the top followed by Al Sadd SC in second while Al Ain and Sepahan FC were eliminated.
Al Nassr will play the Group C runners-up in the Round of 16.
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25/09/2020
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