After the downpour and the delay, a deluge in the Garden City.
Scrap the extra 24 hours, Al Ain had probably waited a lifetime for this. The UAE club took on Al Hilal’s heavyweight world-record setters in an Asian Champions League semi-final and, thanks primarily to a mesmerising 38 first-half minutes, put their rivals to the sword.
Champions of Asia in 2003, and runners-up twice since, Al Ain are 4-2 up from the first leg and one more remarkable result from another showpiece.
Hilal, record four-time champions and runners-up as recently as last year, must lick wounds and rebound, this initial encounter bent in their opponents’ favour by no shortage of courage and capability.
At Hazza bin Zayed Stadium on Wednesday night, Hilal were for a large chunk run ragged and rocked to their core, the Saudi side with 34 consecutive victories finally vanquished. That world-record run met an abrupt end.
Soufiane Rahimi struck a hat-trick, Al Ain’s brightest light shining some more, his predatory opener and two converted penalties, taking him way out in front as the tournament’s top scorer. At the same time, it sent the home crowd into raptures.
Of course, 90 minutes and more remain in this still-gripping tie between two of West Asia’s most prominent clubs. But, for now, Al Ain are dreaming of a first continental crown in more than two decades. Halfway to the final, they can finish the first mission, at least, in Riyadh in seven days’ time.
It took them only six minutes on Wednesday to set the wheels in motion. Rahimi latched on to a deflected pass, raced through and slid his shot expertly under Mohammed Al Owais in the Hilal goal. Marking the Moroccan’s ninth goal of a dizzying campaign, it hoisted him out in front of the scoring charts.
Midway through the first half, Rahimi had his second. Sent beyond the Hilal defence on 23 minutes, he was clattered by Al Owais and, following a lengthy VAR check to determine if he had been offside, the in-form frontman coolly drilled home from the spot. Al Ain were rampant, Hilal reeling.
Seven minutes from half-time, Rahimi and the hosts had a third. This time, Erik sped forward from full-back and, advancing into the Hilal area, was scythed down by Ali Al Bulaihi. The Hilal defender, forever a protagonist, pleaded his innocence, the referee was convinced to consult VAR but, after an age, he awarded the penalty.
Again, Rahimi sent Al Owais the wrong way. Having scored three times across two legs of last month’s quarter-final triumph against Hilal’s neighbours Al Nassr, Rahimi required 38 minutes to match it.
Yet Hilal then snatched an apparent lifeline. Not long into the second half, Sergej Milinkovic-Savic sent a low centre from the right into Malcom, who finished from close range. Enjoying a fantastic debut season with Hilal, the Brazilian grabbed the ball and headed straight for the centre circle.
But Al Ain struck back in an instant. Once more, Rahimi was fouled in the area, this time by Kalidou Koulibaly. However, VAR was again called into action, Kaku assumed responsibility. The Paraguayan, who spent time in Saudi Arabia with Al Taawoun, swept his spot-kick into the corner.
To their credit, though, Hilal hit back. There were 12 minutes remaining when Al Ain goalkeeper Khalid Essa saved well from Milinkovic-Savic but couldn’t clear. With the ball loose, Salem Al Dawsari swivelled and turned it home, at the same time dragging Hilal back from the brink.
They still have some way to go. At 4-2 down – Al Dawsari did rattle a post in injury-time – Asian football’s great achievers, brimming more than ever with star talent, are staring down the barrel.
For sure, they cannot be written off. No doubt, Al Ain will need a duplicate display in Riyadh next week. But on a wild Wednesday night in the Garden City, they proved the 24-hour postponement was worth the wait.
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The National Archives, Abu Dhabi
Founded over 50 years ago, the National Archives collects valuable historical material relating to the UAE, and is the oldest and richest archive relating to the Arabian Gulf.
Much of the material can be viewed on line at the Arabian Gulf Digital Archive - https://www.agda.ae/en
What you as a drone operator need to know
A permit and licence is required to fly a drone legally in Dubai.
Sanad Academy is the United Arab Emirate’s first RPA (Remotely Piloted Aircraft) training and certification specialists endorsed by the Dubai Civil Aviation authority.
It is responsible to train, test and certify drone operators and drones in UAE with DCAA Endorsement.
“We are teaching people how to fly in accordance with the laws of the UAE,” said Ahmad Al Hamadi, a trainer at Sanad.
“We can show how the aircraft work and how they are operated. They are relatively easy to use, but they need responsible pilots.
“Pilots have to be mature. They are given a map of where they can and can’t fly in the UAE and we make these points clear in the lectures we give.
“You cannot fly a drone without registration under any circumstances.”
Larger drones are harder to fly, and have a different response to location control. There are no brakes in the air, so the larger drones have more power.
The Sanad Academy has a designated area to fly off the Al Ain Road near Skydive Dubai to show pilots how to fly responsibly.
“As UAS technology becomes mainstream, it is important to build wider awareness on how to integrate it into commerce and our personal lives,” said Major General Abdulla Khalifa Al Marri, Commander-in-Chief, Dubai Police.
“Operators must undergo proper training and certification to ensure safety and compliance.
“Dubai’s airspace will undoubtedly experience increased traffic as UAS innovations become commonplace, the Forum allows commercial users to learn of best practice applications to implement UAS safely and legally, while benefitting a whole range of industries.”
THE SIXTH SENSE
Starring: Bruce Willis, Toni Collette, Hayley Joel Osment
Director: M. Night Shyamalan
Rating: 5/5
The Little Things
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Four stars
Some of Darwish's last words
"They see their tomorrows slipping out of their reach. And though it seems to them that everything outside this reality is heaven, yet they do not want to go to that heaven. They stay, because they are afflicted with hope." - Mahmoud Darwish, to attendees of the Palestine Festival of Literature, 2008
His life in brief: Born in a village near Galilee, he lived in exile for most of his life and started writing poetry after high school. He was arrested several times by Israel for what were deemed to be inciteful poems. Most of his work focused on the love and yearning for his homeland, and he was regarded the Palestinian poet of resistance. Over the course of his life, he published more than 30 poetry collections and books of prose, with his work translated into more than 20 languages. Many of his poems were set to music by Arab composers, most significantly Marcel Khalife. Darwish died on August 9, 2008 after undergoing heart surgery in the United States. He was later buried in Ramallah where a shrine was erected in his honour.
UAE SQUAD
Goalkeepers: Ali Khaseif, Fahad Al Dhanhani, Mohammed Al Shamsi, Adel Al Hosani
Defenders: Bandar Al Ahbabi, Shaheen Abdulrahman, Walid Abbas, Mahmoud Khamis, Mohammed Barghash, Khalifa Al Hammadi, Hassan Al Mahrami, Yousef Jaber, Mohammed Al Attas
Midfielders: Ali Salmeen, Abdullah Ramadan, Abdullah Al Naqbi, Majed Hassan, Abdullah Hamad, Khalfan Mubarak, Khalil Al Hammadi, Tahnoun Al Zaabi, Harib Abdallah, Mohammed Jumah
Forwards: Fabio De Lima, Caio Canedo, Ali Saleh, Ali Mabkhout, Sebastian Tagliabue
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Torque: 600Nm at 2,500rpm
Transmission: Eight-speed auto
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Dubai works towards better air quality by 2021
Dubai is on a mission to record good air quality for 90 per cent of the year – up from 86 per cent annually today – by 2021.
The municipality plans to have seven mobile air-monitoring stations by 2020 to capture more accurate data in hourly and daily trends of pollution.
These will be on the Palm Jumeirah, Al Qusais, Muhaisnah, Rashidiyah, Al Wasl, Al Quoz and Dubai Investment Park.
“It will allow real-time responding for emergency cases,” said Khaldoon Al Daraji, first environment safety officer at the municipality.
“We’re in a good position except for the cases that are out of our hands, such as sandstorms.
“Sandstorms are our main concern because the UAE is just a receiver.
“The hotspots are Iran, Saudi Arabia and southern Iraq, but we’re working hard with the region to reduce the cycle of sandstorm generation.”
Mr Al Daraji said monitoring as it stood covered 47 per cent of Dubai.
There are 12 fixed stations in the emirate, but Dubai also receives information from monitors belonging to other entities.
“There are 25 stations in total,” Mr Al Daraji said.
“We added new technology and equipment used for the first time for the detection of heavy metals.
“A hundred parameters can be detected but we want to expand it to make sure that the data captured can allow a baseline study in some areas to ensure they are well positioned.”
ICC Women's T20 World Cup Asia Qualifier 2025, Thailand
UAE fixtures
May 9, v Malaysia
May 10, v Qatar
May 13, v Malaysia
May 15, v Qatar
May 18 and 19, semi-finals
May 20, final
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Europe’s rearming plan
- Suspend strict budget rules to allow member countries to step up defence spending
- Create new "instrument" providing €150 billion of loans to member countries for defence investment
- Use the existing EU budget to direct more funds towards defence-related investment
- Engage the bloc's European Investment Bank to drop limits on lending to defence firms
- Create a savings and investments union to help companies access capital
Banned items
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Drones
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Animals
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Fireworks/ flares
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Radios or power banks
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Laser pointers
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Glass
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Selfie sticks/ umbrellas
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Sharp objects
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Political flags or banners
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Bikes, skateboards or scooters
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UK's plans to cut net migration
Under the UK government’s proposals, migrants will have to spend 10 years in the UK before being able to apply for citizenship.
Skilled worker visas will require a university degree, and there will be tighter restrictions on recruitment for jobs with skills shortages.
But what are described as "high-contributing" individuals such as doctors and nurses could be fast-tracked through the system.
Language requirements will be increased for all immigration routes to ensure a higher level of English.
Rules will also be laid out for adult dependants, meaning they will have to demonstrate a basic understanding of the language.
The plans also call for stricter tests for colleges and universities offering places to foreign students and a reduction in the time graduates can remain in the UK after their studies from two years to 18 months.
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In numbers: China in Dubai
The number of Chinese people living in Dubai: An estimated 200,000
Number of Chinese people in International City: Almost 50,000
Daily visitors to Dragon Mart in 2018/19: 120,000
Daily visitors to Dragon Mart in 2010: 20,000
Percentage increase in visitors in eight years: 500 per cent
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