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AFC Champions League semi-final second leg: Riyadh Crescent fought at home, lost on aggregate and was eliminated
At 2 a.m. Beijing time on April 24, a key matchup in the semifinals of the 2023-24 AFC Champions League was staged at the home of Riyadh Crescent. Facing a visiting Al Ain, the Crescents were hoping to make a comeback as they lost the first leg 2-4. However, after 90 minutes of fierce battle, although the Crescents won 2-1 in this game, they were still unable to change the situation of falling behind on aggregate, and finally failed to exit the tournament with an aggregate score of 4-5.
Opening Blitz: Crescent Penalty Strikes
At the beginning of the game, the Crescent team showed a strong desire to attack. Just two minutes into the game, Michael was tackled in the box by the opposing player Cuame, and after VAR confirmation, the referee decisively awarded a penalty. Neves stood in front of the penalty spot and calmly slotted the ball into the back of the net to give the Crescents a 1-0 lead and chase the aggregate score to 3-4. The goal was a huge morale boost for the home team and gave them hope of a comeback to advance.
Ain strikes back quickly: Menezes equalises
However, Team Ain did not panic and quickly organized an effective counter-attack. In the 12th minute, Ain tore apart the Crescent team's defense through smooth coordination, Nadel made a precise cross on the right side of the penalty area, Menezes received the ball and shot directly without pausing, and the ball went into the net, and Ain team pulled the score to 1-1 and maintained a 5-3 lead on aggregate. The goal showed the calmness and quality of the Al Ain team, who were not swayed by the opening upset.
The second half was abrupt: Al-Dosari volleyed home
In the second half of the game, the Crescents continued to intensify their offensive and try to turn things around. In the 51st minute, Al-Shahrani's powerful throw caused chaos, Balmain's header failed to reach the ball, and Al-Dosari seized the opportunity in the box and volleyed the ball in, giving the Crescent a lead again, 2-1, but still 4-5 on aggregate. The goal gave hope to Crescent fans and encouraged the players on the pitch.
Missed opportunity: Michael misses a single shot
However, football matches are always full of drama. In the 59th minute, Milinkovic sent a precise through ball to Michael's chance, but his push was too wide and was saved by Ain goalkeeper Issa. The missed opportunity is undoubtedly a heavy blow to the Crescent team, and it also indicates that their hopes of reversing the promotion are gradually being dashed.
Crescent loses on aggregate
As the game progressed, the Crescent team, although dominant on the field, was never able to rewrite the score again. When the final whistle blew, the Crescents defeated Al Ain 2-1 at home, but still lost 4-5 on aggregate, regrettably bidding farewell to this season's AFC Champions League. Team Ain made it to the finals against the winner between Ulsan HD and Yokohama Marinos.
This game was undoubtedly a painful experience for the Crescent team. They did their best at home but were unable to turn it around. Judging from the course of the game, the Crescents lacked decisive players at key moments, and Michael's one-on-one failure became the turning point of the game. In addition, the Crescents also had some problems on the defensive end, with Team Ain tearing down their defense several times through fluid interconnection.
Despite this, the Crescent team still showed a tenacious fighting spirit in this game. They continued to attack from behind, and goals from Neves and Aldo Dosari gave fans hope of a comeback. However, football matches are brutal and there is only one winner. With a more stable and experienced performance, the Ain team successfully advanced to the finals.
For the Crescents, the game was a loss, but it was not for nothing. They need to learn from this game, strengthen the team's ability to switch between attack and defence, and improve their ability to grasp key moments. At the same time, the team also needs to increase its efforts in the development of young players to be more prepared for future competitions.
Overall, although this AFC Champions League semi-final ended in the defeat of the Crescent team, it also brought a wonderful matchup to the fans. We look forward to better results in the future competitions and wish Team Ain a great performance in the finals.