Al Nasr show Al Ain the door to reach Arabian Gulf Cup final
- 11 Jan 2020
Al Nasr joined Shabab Al Ahli in the 2019-20 Arabian Gulf Cup final after overcoming Al Ain 4-1 on penalty shootouts after drawing 1-1 in regular time in the second semi-final at the Hazza Bin Zayed Stadium on Friday.
After a cagey start, the Boss had their first sight of goal in the 24th minute through Caio Canedo who got on the end of a Salem Abdullah cross but failed to direct his header towards goal.
Two minutes later, Kodjo Laba advanced down the left and sent a cross towards Bandar Al Ahbabi in the box. Al Nasr full-back Mahmoud Khamis attempted to clear the ball at the near box, but inadvertently sent it into his own net to gift Al Ain the lead.
The visitors were made to wait until the last eight minutes of the game, when Khamis made amends by sending a pinpoint diagonal ball for Alvaro Negredo who set up Toze with a cushioned header allowing the Portuguese to head in at the far post to equalise for Al Nasr.
Goalkeeper Ahmed Shambieh starred for Al Nasr as the Boss players converted just one of their four penalties, while the Blues’ men scored all four to progress to next Friday’s Arabian Gulf Cup final against Dubai rivals Shabab Al Ahli.
