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Background of the game and preparation of both sides
On April 18, a football focus battle was staged at the home stadium of the UAE team Al Ain. The two sides of the match, one side is the UAE powerhouse Al Ain, and the other side is the Saudi giants Riyadh Crescent. Riyadh Crescent have been in the limelight ahead of the tournament and are undoubtedly the favourites for this game as they hold a staggering 34-game winning streak. However, the game of football is always unpredictable, and Al Ain will never give up on victory easily.
The team in Ain made thorough preparations before the game, and they carefully studied the tactics and player characteristics of Riyadh Crescent to develop a targeted strategy. Despite Riyadh's Crescent winning streak, they are also aware that any one fight could be the end of the winning streak, so they don't dare to be careless.
Start with Ain's swift offensive
With the referee's whistle, the game officially began. Team Ain showed their determination and fighting spirit from the start of the match, with a positive fighting attitude and a fast attacking style of play. With a high-pressure press, the Ain team put the Riyadh Crescent's backline into chaos for a while. Ain's forward line was very active in the game, especially Rahimi, who showed great impact and shooting ability in the game.
Just six minutes into the game, Al Ain got off to a dream start with a clever combination from Nadir and Rahimi volleying into the far corner from inside the box and the ball into the net. This goal not only gave a huge morale boost to the Al Ain team, but also put a lot of pressure on Riyadh Crescent.
Rahimi's hat-trick versus Ain's solid defence
Team Ain continued to maintain a fierce offensive in the next game. In the 25th minute, Rahimi had another chance to be tackled by the goalkeeper in the box, and after VAR intervention, the referee awarded a penalty. Rahimi took the penalty himself, and it was in one fell swoop to extend the score to 2-0 and complete the double ring. At the same time, Al Ain's backline has also shown the best quality in Asia, and they have successfully defused Riyadh Crescent's attacks on several occasions through close cooperation and excellent defending.
In the 38th minute of the game, Ain won another penalty opportunity. This time, Rahimi did not disappoint, scoring a hat-trick with a solid penalty of the ball. At this time, the score on the field was already 3-0, the Al Ain team was far ahead, and the Riyadh Crescent was in an unprecedented predicament.
Crescent Moon's counterattack and Ain's response
After a terrible first half, Riyadh Crescent made timely tactical and personnel changes at half-time in an attempt to salvage the slump in the second half. In the 49th minute, Milinkovic sent a cross after breaking down the wing, and Malcom, who followed up in the middle, scrambled to score and pull one back for Riyadh Crescent. This goal undoubtedly boosted the fighting spirit of the new moon and also gave them hope of a comeback.
However, Team Ain didn't panic because of this. They continued to stick to their tactical style of play, responding to the Riyadh Crescent offensive with solid defence and efficient counter-attacks. In the 54th minute, Kalidou Koulibaly brought down Rahimi in the box and Al Ain was awarded another penalty. This time, it was Kaku who took the penalty and he slotted it in as Al Ain regained a three-goal advantage.
The struggle with the crescent moon at the end of the game
As the game progressed, Riyadh Crescent struggled to break down the Al Ain team's solid defence, despite their constant efforts to attack and try to close the gap. Al Ain's Kaku hit the crossbar and bounced off the counter-attack, almost giving Al Ain another goal. It wasn't until the 78th minute of the game that Riyadh Crescent scored by Dawasari turning and sweeping in the penalty area to pull a goal back. However, the score remained unchanged for the remainder of the game, and in the end, Al Ain won the game with a 4-2 victory over Riyadh Crescent.
The end of the winning streak and the outlook for the future
The victory for the Al Ain team is undoubtedly a huge affirmation of their own strength. Not only did they end Riyadh Crescent's 34-game winning streak, but they also showed the world their strength and teamwork. And for the losing Riyadh Crescent, the defeat may be a timely wake-up call, reminding them to be more cautious and focused on every opponent in future matches.
Looking ahead to the next meeting between the two teams, Riyadh Crescent will return to host Al Ain. Whether they can achieve a comeback at home and reach the final has become the focus of fans' attention, and the team will also face more challenges and pressures, they will need to continue to stay calm and focused and play to their own characteristics and strengths for the next games, let's wait and see!