Al Ain has clinched a place in the final of the 2023-2024 AFC Champions League, defeating Saudi Arabia's Al Hilal with an aggregate score of 5-4 across two semifinal legs.
Despite a 2-1 setback in the second leg at "Kingdom Arena" in Riyadh, Al Ain's earlier 4-2 victory at home in the first leg proved decisive in their advancement.
The action-packed match began with Al Hilal earning a penalty in the 4th minute, swiftly converted by Rúben Neves to give the hosts an early lead. Al Ain responded quickly with Erik Jorgens de Menezes leveling the score at 1-1 in the 12th minute.
The match's intensity escalated when Salem Al-Dawsari put Al Hilal ahead again in the 51st minute.
Despite the pressure, Al Ain displayed resilience and tactical acumen, managing to secure their spot in the final.
This achievement marks Al Ain’s fourth appearance in the AFC Champions League final. They previously won the championship in 2003 and were runners-up in 2005 and 2016.
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