Al Ain outlast River to reach final with shoot-out win

Tuesday 18 December 2018, 16:35
FIFA Club World Cup UAE 2018™
Al Ain outlast River to reach final with shoot-out win

Host team Al Ain progressed to the FIFA Club World Cup UAE 2018 final after a penalty shoot-out victory over Copa Libertadores winners River Plate. Goalkeeper Khalid Eisa was once again the penalty hero, saving River's fifth and final penalty after the game ended 2-2 following extra time.
Al Ain will face the winner of Kashima Antlers and tournament holders Real Madrid in the showpiece decider on Saturday 22 December.
Zoran Mamic's side got off to the perfect start when they took the lead on three minutes when Ahmed Barman's corner met Marcus Berg, making his first start at UAE 2018, who headed the ball past Franco Armani.
River Plate then grabbed an equaliser on 11 minutes through Santos Borre. Al Ain goalkeeper Khalid Eisa produced a brave double stop to deny Lucas Pratto and Exequiel Palacios, but he was powerless to prevent Borre prodding home from close range on the loose ball.
Borre netted his second just five minutes later when Gonzalo Martinez raced down the right flank before playing in the Colombian inside the area who put River in front.
Hussein Elshahat thought he had netted an equaliser for the hosts shortly before the break, and even though his effort was ruled offside by a VAR decision, Al Ain would eventually celebrate a leveller. Early in the second half, Brazilian live-wire Caio netted his first goal of UAE 2018 in style after receiving the ball from Tsukasa Shiotani and firing low into Armani's net.
River were awarded a penalty when Milton Casco was pushed over inside the box by Mohamed Ahmad. Martinez stepped up and hit the ball with venom but his effort smashed off the crossbar.
With the score poised at 2-2, extra time followed, and after Al Ain had converted penalty No5, Enzo Perez's penalty was saved by Eisa - the shoot-out hero in Al Ain's opener against Team Wellington.
Alibaba Cloud Match Award​ winner: Khalid Eisa (Al Ain)
River Plate 2-2 Al Ain (4-5 pens) AET (UAE 2018)
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Rafael Santos Borre of River Plate scores his team's first goal 
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General view inside the Al Ain dressing room
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General view inside the Al Ain dressing room
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General view inside the Al Ain dressing room
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General view inside the River Plate dressing room
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River Plate fans show their support in Al Ain
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Gonzalo Martinez, Jonathan Maidana and Jorge Moreira of River Plate walk out to warm up 
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River Plate and Al Ain enter the pitch
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River Plate players line up for a team photo
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River Plate coach Marcelo Gallardo looks on
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Al Ain players line up for a team photo
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Players of River Plate shake hands with match officials 
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Marcus Berg of Al Ain scores his team's first goal
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Marcus Berg of Al Ain celebrates after scoring his team's first goal with Ahmed Barman
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Al Ain players celebrate after Marcus Berg scores their first goal 
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Rafael Santos Borre of River Plate celebrates after scoring his team's first goal
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Milton Casco, Javier Pinola and Jonathan Maidana of River Plate celebrate their team's second goal
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Caio of Al Ain is challenged by Leonardo Ponzio of River Plate
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Marcus Berg of Al Ain reacts
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Al Ain coach Zoran Mamic gives his team instructions
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Ismail Ahmed of Al Ain competes for a header with Lucas Pratto of River Plate 
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Marcus Berg of Al Ain challenges for the ball with Jonathan Maidana of River Plate
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Caio of Al Ain celebrates after scoring his team's second goal 
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Caio of Al Ain celebrates with team-mates after scoring his team's second goal 
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Lucas Pratto of River Plate controls the ball from Ismail Ahmed of Al Ain 
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Referee Gianluca Rocchi looks on 
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Gonzalo Martinez of River Plate takes and misses from the penalty spot
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Khalid Eisa of Al Ain reacts to Gonzalo Martinez's penalty miss
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Rayan Yaslam of Al Ain battles for possession with Juan Quintero of River Plate
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Coach Zoran Mamic gives Bandar Al Ahbabi of Al Ain instructions 
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Lucas Pratto of River Plate is challenged by Tsukasa Shiotani of Al Ain
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Ignacio Scocco of River Plate scores his team's first penalty in the penalty shoot out
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Caio of Al Ain scores his team's first penalty in the penalty shoot-out 
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Enzo Perez of River Plate misses his team's fifth penalty
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Khalid Eisa of Al Ain saves the fifth penalty from Enzo Perez of River Plate 
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Players of Al Ain celebrate their penalty shoot-out win over River Plate 
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Hussein El Shahat of Al Ain celebrates victory
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River Plate players look dejected following defeat 
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Caio of Al Ain celebrates victory following the FIFA Club World Cup UAE 2018 Semi Final 
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Al Ain coach Zoran Mamic celebrates victory with Rayan Yaslam
Al Ain outlast River to reach final with shoot-out win

Alibaba Cloud Match Award​ winner: Khalid Eisa (Al Ain)

River Plate 2-2 Al Ain (4-5 pens) AET (UAE 2018)

Rafael Santos Borre of River Plate scores his team's first goal

General view inside the Al Ain dressing room

Alibaba Cloud Match Award winner: Khalid Eisa (Al Ain)
