Al Ain booked their place in the ADIB Cup final for the sixth time in their history, progressing on aggregate despite a 2–0 defeat to Al Nasr in the second leg of their semi-final clash.
Having established a commanding advantage with a 3–0 victory in the first leg, Al Ain did enough over the two matches to secure a 3–2 aggregate win and set up a final showdown against Al Wahda.
Al Nasr began the second leg with urgency and nearly found an early breakthrough after three minutes when Kevin Andres Agudelo collected the ball on the edge of the penalty area, cut inside, and drove a low effort narrowly wide of the right-hand post.
Their pressure soon paid dividends. Two minutes later, Bernard Mensah produced a moment of quality, unleashing a sublime strike into the top-left corner, leaving the Al Ain goalkeeper with no chance and giving Al Nasr the lead on the night.
Al Ain responded quickly and went close to an equaliser when Laba Kodjo latched onto a perfectly weighted through ball from Kaku, drilling a low effort that slipped just past the post after 14 minutes.
The hosts continued to push for parity and came close again in first-half stoppage time. Rafael Vila delivered a pinpoint cross into the penalty area, where El Houssien Rahimi met it with a first-time half-volley, but his effort sailed just over the crossbar.
Al Nasr reignited their hopes five minutes after the hour mark, as Ramon Mierez showed great composure to apply a clinical finish and double his side’s advantage on the night.
Despite sustained attacking pressure in search of a decisive third goal, Al Nasr were unable to complete the comeback, as Al Ain’s aggregate lead proved decisive.
Al Ain held firm to see out the contest, ending Al Nasr’s run in the ADIB Cup and confirming their place in the final, where they will face Al Wahda with silverware firmly in their sights.
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