Al Ain Bounces Back Under New Coach Jardim

Al Ain, the Asian champions, began a new era under their new Portuguese coach Leonardo Jardim with a remarkable return to winning ways in the eighth round of the UAE Pro League.

Togolese striker Kodjo Laba scored a goal in each half, leading Al Ain to a 4-2 victory over hosts Al Orooba and gifting Jardim his first win as head coach. Jardim took over two weeks ago, replacing Argentine Hernán Crespo, who was dismissed following the team’s declining performance across all competitions, including their elimination from the Intercontinental Cup after a 3-0 loss to Egypt’s Al Ahly.

This victory marked Al Ain’s first win after two disappointing results, a 1-2 loss to Al Wahda and a 1-1 draw with Dibba Al Hisn, which accelerated Crespo’s departure. Crespo had led the team to the AFC Champions League title, but the club opted for Jardim, who is no stranger to UAE football, having guided Shabab Al Ahli to their eighth league title in the 2022-2023 season.

With two games in hand, Al Ain secured their third win in six league matches this season, raising their tally to 11 points and climbing to sixth place, seven points behind league leaders Shabab Al Ahli. 

On the other hand, Al Orooba suffered their seventh defeat in eight matches, remaining in second-to-last place with just three points.

Sufian Rahimi opened the scoring for Al Ain 13 minutes into the game when he capitalized on a mistake by Al Orooba’s goalkeeper Abdullah Al Yousef, heading the ball into the net from close range after a cross from the right.

Kodjo Laba doubled Al Ain’s lead in the 29th minute, taking advantage of another error by Al Yousef, who failed to hold onto a cross from the left, leaving the ball in front of the striker who seized the opportunity and effortlessly slotted it into the empty net.

Mohammed Awadallah made it 3-0 for Al Ain a minute before halftime, after receiving a pass from Rahimi inside the box.

Bubacarr Trawally missed a golden opportunity to reduce the deficit in first-half stoppage time, shooting over the bar from close range after receiving the ball inside the penalty area.

Kodjo Laba completed his brace in the 62nd minute, heading the ball into the net after Awadallah pressed an Al Orooba defender, intercepted the ball, and delivered a pinpoint cross.

Al Orooba thought they had pulled one back in the 66th minute, but the goal was disallowed following a VAR review for a foul by Trawally.

Iranian forward Mohammad Reza Azadi scored Al Orooba’s first goal in the 73rd minute with a composed finish after a long cross, controlling the ball brilliantly before slotting it into the net.

Five minutes later, Cameroonian Gabriel Kac added a second goal for the hosts. Al Orooba pushed hard to close the gap further and find an equalizer as Al Ain retreated and relied on counterattacks, but the home side’s efforts fell short before the referee blew the final whistle.

In another match from the same round, Khor Fakkan secured an important 3-1 victory over hosts Al Bataeh under the guidance of their new Emirati coach Abdulmajid Al Nemer, who replaced Romanian Daniel Isăilă.

The goals for Khor Fakkan were scored by the Brazilian trio Pedro Henrique (14′), Lourency Rodrigues (60′), and Matheus Andrade (79′), while veteran Ahmed Khalil scored a consolation goal for Al Bataeh in stoppage time (90+2′).

This win elevated Khor Fakkan to eighth place with 10 points, while Al Bataeh remained in 12th place with four points.