AFC Champions League Elite
The Moroccan forward - who had bagged braces against Saudi Arabia’s Al Nassr Club and Air Force SC of Iraq - struck again in the second half to give the United Arab Emirates side their third win on the trot.
Defeat meant Tractor are still searching for their first win, with the Islamic Republic of Iran side only having a point to their name after three matches.
The early threats came from the purple jerseys of the home side as Houssine Rahimi, Georgios Giakoumakis and Dorde Skoko made sure Tractor custodian Parsa Jafari knew he was in for a tough night.
But it was Al Ain goalkeeper and captain Khalid Eisa who would produce the first significant save of the game in the 15th minute, getting down to his right to tip away a powerful Danial Esmaeilifar strike from outside the box.
Al Ain found the breakthrough in the 21st minute from an unlikely source as centre-back Ramy Rabia strode forward and from 30 yards out, unleashed a swerving left-footed shot that a fully-stretched Jafari could do nothing to prevent the ball from nestling in the net.
There was more work for Jafari nine minutes later as he quickly came off his line to deny Rahimi before reading the Moroccan forward’s low strike from outside the box moments later.
MD3: Al Ain FC (UAE) v Tractor FC (IRN)
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The momentum which Al Ain had built in the first half was nowhere to be seen at the start of the second period as Tractor came roaring back.
Esmaeilifar cracked a thunderous shot against the post in the 55th minute with the ball bouncing out to Tibor Halilovic on the edge of the box and the Croatian midfielder then curled a spectacular effort past Eisa for the equaliser.
A stung Al Ain picked up their game again and restored their advantage through the prolific Rahimi, who escaped his marker at the back post to steer home Yahya Benkhaleq’s pinpoint cross from the right flank in the 70th minute.
The home side had chances to add to their lead, with substitute Erik twice getting into good positions but the experience of Shojae Khalilzadeh snuffed out those opportunities as Al Ain settled for a slim victory.
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