Last minute penalty converted by Omar Abdulrahman helped last year’s runners-up Al Ain picked up their first win of the 2017 AFC Champions League in an exciting 3-2 win away at Bunyodkor on Tuesday.
The reigning AFC Player of the Year had initially put the Emiratis in front on eight minutes after he curled home a stunning free-kick only for Vadim Cemirtan to restore parity just two minutes later for the Uzbek hosts.
Al Ain’s Brazilian winger Caio put the visitors back in front just five minutes later to conclude an action-packed opening quarter of an hour before Dostonbek Khamdamov’s sweetly-struck finish on 43 minutes ensured the teams went in level at 2-2.
Bunyodkor’s attempt to end their 16-game winless streak was dealt a blow with 18 minutes remaining when defender Akramjon Komilov was sent off after receiving a second yellow card and their slump was guaranteed to continue when Caio was brought down by Otabek Shukurov inside the area and Abdulrahman stepped up to coolly complete his brace.
