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Host side Al Ain came back from three goals down to draw 3-3 with Team Wellington and then won 4-3 on penalties in a dramatic first round match at the Club World Cup on Wednesday. Al Ain goalkeeper Khalid Eisa saved two penalties in the shootout to earn his tAl Ain hit back from three behind, win on penalties
Host side Al Ain came back from three goals down to draw 3-3 with Team Wellington and then won 4-3 on penalties in a dramatic first round match at the Club World Cup on Wednesday. Al Ain goalkeeper Khalid Eisa saved two penalties in the shootout to earn his team a second round tie against African champions Esperance, of Tunisia, on Saturday. Team Wellington, the Oceania champions, got off to a flying start when Mario Barcia scored with a dipping long-range shot in the 11th minute and Aaron Clapham finished off an incisive passing move for the second four minutes later. Al Ain had a 36th-minute goal disallowed by VAR for a foul in the buildup and things went from bad to worse for Al Ain as Mario Ilich added a third for the semi-professionals in the 44th minute, tapping in unmarked at the post from a corner. But New Zealanders allowed the hosts to get a morale-boosting goal on the stroke of halftime, Tsukasa Shiotani slotting home after the defence had failed to clear. Al Ain coach Zoran Mamic said that proved the turning point. "It was really hard to come back, thank God we scored in the first half. That goal gave us some spirit and some chnace to come back in the second... Read more