“Fear None” declared the banner, unfurled across the largest section of Al Ain fans at Hazza bin Zayed Stadium.
Extended opposite the player tunnel, the tifo welcomed both sets of players as they entered the pitch for what became one of the most memorable nights in the Garden City.
The sentiment, stretched across the East Stand, was admirable, but it seemed a little fanciful, too.
Should Al Ain really not fear Al Hilal? The record four-time Asian Champions League winners, runners-up last year, arrived for the semi-final first leg on a 34-match win streak. Last month, they made global headlines as holders of a new world record.
The run took root all the way back in September. Al Nassr, with Cristiano Ronaldo and Sadio Mane and Marcelo Brozovic et al, couldn’t stop their Riyadh rivals, defeated on two occasions.
Al Ittihad, the reigning Saudi Pro League champions boasting the likes of Karim Benzema, N’Golo Kante, and goal guarantor Abderrazak Hamdallah, had come up short against the current runaway league leaders – four times.
There were Champions League excursions to India, Uzbekistan and Iran, the latter considered one of the most unwelcoming stops in Asian club football. But Hilal cast aside them all.
They had done so for the majority without Neymar, their superstar signing injured last October after five matches for his new club. More recently, they had to make do without Aleksandar Mitrovic, the prolific Serbian excelling in his debut season. Up until the hamstring injury sustained last month, Mitrovic had 33 goals in 35 matches.
Still, Hilal marched on. It helps, of course, when they have Yassine Bounou, Morocco’s hero goalkeeper from the Qatar World Cup. There’s Kalidou Koulibaly, a former Serie A defender of the year and African champion with Senegal.
In midfield, Ruben Neves and Sergej Milinkovic-Savic have starred in the principal divisions in England and Italy, respectively.
Filling the Neymar void, compatriot Malcom has been fantastic. The former Barcelona winger, top scorer in last season’s Russian top-flight, had six goals in his previous four matches, and 24 overall since joining last summer from Zenit Saint Petersburg.
Al Ain, as much as professional football teams can be, should have been, not scared, but at least wary.
Yet they steamrolled Hilal in a formidable first half on Wednesday. They strode out in front on six minutes, and by the 38th, were 3-0 up.
Soufiane Rahimi, the star man across two legs against Nassr in last month’s quarter-final, had three more goals, perched now as the 2023/24 Champions League lead scorer.
When Hilal pulled a goal back right after half-time, when for the first time the home fans sensed some fear setting in, Al Ain responded in an instant. Kaku converted the hosts’ third penalty of the night.
Again, Al Ain had to reach into the well. Salem Al Dawsari, the reigning Asian player of the year, made it 4-2 with 12 minutes remaining, sparking a Hilal onslaught.
But Khalid Essa, Khalid Al Hashemi, Kouame Autonne, Bandar Al Ahbabi, Erik, Park Young-woo and the rest stood firm. Al Ain had jammed the Hilal juggernaut.
No wonder manager Hernan Crespo lauded his players, bursting with pride. This was an Al Ain display for the ages.
The thing is, they need to do it all over again. As Crespo cautioned, the job remains only half done. Riyadh on Tuesday will provide the reverse of Wednesday in Al Ain: a partisan support will drive Hilal on, Al Ain having to play not only wounded serial winners, but the occasion. Another mighty performance, built once more on courage and conviction, is required.
The first leg, though, proved Al Ain shouldn't be bowed by the stature of any opponent. Yes, treat Hilal with the respect they so obviously merit. Then seize the opportunity of a similarly significant success for the UAE’s most decorated club.
Embrace the moment next week. As the banner asserted, fear none.
UAE currency: the story behind the money in your pockets
Stage results
1. Julian Alaphilippe (FRA) Deceuninck-QuickStep 4:39:05
2. Michael Matthews (AUS) Team BikeExchange 0:00:08
3. Primoz Roglic (SLV) Jumbo-Visma same time
4. Jack Haig (AUS) Bahrain Victorious s.t
5. Wilco Kelderman (NED) Bora-Hansgrohe s.t
6. Tadej Pogacar (SLV) UAE Team Emirates s.t
7. David Gaudu (FRA) Groupama-FDJ s.t
8. Sergio Higuita Garcia (COL) EF Education-Nippo s.t
9. Bauke Mollema (NED) Trek-Segafredo s.t
10. Geraint Thomas (GBR) Ineos Grenadiers s.t
WHY%20AAYAN%20IS%20'PERFECT%20EXAMPLE'
%3Cp%3EDavid%20White%20might%20be%20new%20to%20the%20country%2C%20but%20he%20has%20clearly%20already%20built%20up%20an%20affinity%20with%20the%20place.%3Cbr%3E%3Cbr%3EAfter%20the%20UAE%20shocked%20Pakistan%20in%20the%20semi-final%20of%20the%20Under%2019%20Asia%20Cup%20last%20month%2C%20White%20was%20hugged%20on%20the%20field%20by%20Aayan%20Khan%2C%20the%20team%E2%80%99s%20captain.%3Cbr%3E%3Cbr%3EWhite%20suggests%20that%20was%20more%20a%20sign%20of%20Aayan%E2%80%99s%20amiability%20than%20anything%20else.%20But%20he%20believes%20the%20young%20all-rounder%2C%20who%20was%20part%20of%20the%20winning%20Gulf%20Giants%20team%20last%20year%2C%20is%20just%20the%20sort%20of%20player%20the%20country%20should%20be%20seeking%20to%20produce%20via%20the%20ILT20.%3Cbr%3E%3Cbr%3E%E2%80%9CHe%20is%20a%20delightful%20young%20man%2C%E2%80%9D%20White%20said.%20%E2%80%9CHe%20played%20in%20the%20competition%20last%20year%20at%2017%2C%20and%20look%20at%20his%20development%20from%20there%20till%20now%2C%20and%20where%20he%20is%20representing%20the%20UAE.%3Cbr%3E%3Cbr%3E%E2%80%9CHe%20was%20influential%20in%20the%20U19%20team%20which%20beat%20Pakistan.%20He%20is%20the%20perfect%20example%20of%20what%20we%20are%20all%20trying%20to%20achieve%20here.%3Cbr%3E%3Cbr%3E%E2%80%9CIt%20is%20about%20the%20development%20of%20players%20who%20are%20going%20to%20represent%20the%20UAE%20and%20go%20on%20to%20help%20make%20UAE%20a%20force%20in%20world%20cricket.%E2%80%9D%C2%A0%3C%2Fp%3E%0A
Racecard
6.30pm: Mazrat Al Ruwayah Group Two (PA) US$55,000 (Dirt) 1,600m
7.05pm: Meydan Trophy (TB) $100,000 (Turf) 1,900m
7.40pm: Handicap (TB) $135,000 (D) 1,200m
8.15pm: Balanchine Group Two (TB) $250,000 (T) 1,800m
8.50pm: Handicap (TB) $135,000 (T) 1,000m
9.25pm: Firebreak Stakes Group Three (TB) $200,000 (D) 1,600m
10pm: Handicap (TB) $175,000 (T) 2,410m
The National selections: 6.30pm: RM Lam Tara, 7.05pm: Al Mukhtar Star, 7.40pm: Bochart, 8.15pm: Magic Lily, 8.50pm: Roulston Scar, 9.25pm: Quip, 10pm: Jalmoud
Who has lived at The Bishops Avenue?
- George Sainsbury of the supermarket dynasty, sugar magnate William Park Lyle and actress Dame Gracie Fields were residents in the 1930s when the street was only known as ‘Millionaires’ Row’.
- Then came the international super rich, including the last king of Greece, Constantine II, the Sultan of Brunei and Indian steel magnate Lakshmi Mittal who was at one point ranked the third richest person in the world.
- Turkish tycoon Halis Torprak sold his mansion for £50m in 2008 after spending just two days there. The House of Saud sold 10 properties on the road in 2013 for almost £80m.
- Other residents have included Iraqi businessman Nemir Kirdar, singer Ariana Grande, holiday camp impresario Sir Billy Butlin, businessman Asil Nadir, Paul McCartney’s former wife Heather Mills.
Hunting park to luxury living
- Land was originally the Bishop of London's hunting park, hence the name
- The road was laid out in the mid 19th Century, meandering through woodland and farmland
- Its earliest houses at the turn of the 20th Century were substantial detached properties with extensive grounds
THE%20SPECS
%3Cp%3EBattery%3A%2060kW%20lithium-ion%20phosphate%3Cbr%3EPower%3A%20Up%20to%20201bhp%3Cbr%3E0%20to%20100kph%3A%207.3%20seconds%3Cbr%3ERange%3A%20418km%3Cbr%3EPrice%3A%20From%20Dh149%2C900%3Cbr%3EAvailable%3A%20Now%3C%2Fp%3E%0A
RESULTS
5pm Maiden (PA) Dh80,000 (Turf) 1,600m
Winner Thabet Al Reef, Bernardo Pinheiro (jockey), Abdallah Al Hammadi (trainer)
5.30pm Handicap (PA) Dh80,000 (T) 1,600m
Winner Blue Diamond, Pat Cosgrave, Abdallah Al Hammadi
6pm Arabian Triple Crown Round-1 Listed (PA) Dh230,000 (T) 1,600m
Winner Hameem, Adrie de Vries, Abdallah Al Hammadi
6.30pm Wathba Stallions Cup Handicap (PA) Dh70,000 (T) 1,400m
Winner Shoja’A Muscat, Szczepan Mazur, Ibrahim Al Hadhrami
7pm Maiden (PA) Dh80,000 (T) 1,200m
Winner Heros De Lagarde, Szczepan Mazur, Ibrahim Al Hadhrami
7.30pm Handicap (TB) Dh100,000 (T) 2,400m
Winner Good Tidings, Antonio Fresu, Musabah Al Muhairi
Alita: Battle Angel
Director: Robert Rodriguez
Stars: Rosa Salazar, Christoph Waltz, Keean Johnson
Four stars
Tightening the screw on rogue recruiters
The UAE overhauled the procedure to recruit housemaids and domestic workers with a law in 2017 to protect low-income labour from being exploited.
Only recruitment companies authorised by the government are permitted as part of Tadbeer, a network of labour ministry-regulated centres.
A contract must be drawn up for domestic workers, the wages and job offer clearly stating the nature of work.
The contract stating the wages, work entailed and accommodation must be sent to the employee in their home country before they depart for the UAE.
The contract will be signed by the employer and employee when the domestic worker arrives in the UAE.
Only recruitment agencies registered with the ministry can undertake recruitment and employment applications for domestic workers.
Penalties for illegal recruitment in the UAE include fines of up to Dh100,000 and imprisonment
But agents not authorised by the government sidestep the law by illegally getting women into the country on visit visas.