Al Ain’s personality made the difference against Al Dhafra

Al Ain player and the scorer of the winning goal over Al Dhafra, the Frenchman Nassim Al Shazli, confirmed that his team showed a strong personality during the match that brought it together with Al Dhafra, yesterday, in the 12th round of the professional league, and ended with Al Ain winning 2-1, indicating that the victory was not easy after falling behind in the result, but it came as a result of Al Ain’s strong personality that made the difference in the second half.

Al Ain raised its score to point 30, strengthening its lead in the rankings.

Chadli said in press statements after the match: “It was a very important match for us. We were late in the result, but we did not give up and showed the team’s true character. The most important thing is that we succeeded in coming back and getting the three points, and this is what we were looking for.”

He added: “We performed well in the first half, and created some chances, but we did not succeed in scoring, and in the second half everything changed, after the coach in the locker room stressed to us the necessity of fighting until the end, because the three points are not decided in the first half.”

The leader suffered before seizing the three points, after the hosts finished the first half with a goal lead from an early penalty kick they obtained after their player Mohamed Al-Khali was obstructed inside the penalty area, which Brazilian Jobson Souza successfully translated into a goal in the 16th minute, which he executed in the “Panenka” style.

Al Ain entered the second period in a better position, as Laba Kodjo was able to follow a cross sent by Blasius and turn it into the goal (60), and substitute Nassim Chadli gave Al Ain the winning goal, after following up on a rebound from the post, which he easily completed into the goal (82).

For his part, Al Dhafra coach, Zeljko Petrovic, said that his players deserve to be applauded for the level they performed against Al Ain, pointing out that his team lost against Al Ain due to simple mistakes, as he said.

He added: “I am happy with the 15 points we have obtained so far. The main goal for us is to stay in the league. We could have achieved at least a draw had it not been for the simple mistakes.”