President's Cup Final, 2005, Zayed Sports City, Abu Dhabi - Joy for Al Ain - Purple nation celebrating their victory agaist Al Wahda.

 

President's Cup joy for Al Ain
16 June 2005, 8 pm at Zayed Sports City, Abu Dhabi, UAE
Al Ain qualify for AFC Champions League 2006
60,000 spectators who were present at the stadium

Right Side : Deputy Prime Minister H.H. Shaikh Sultan bin Zayed Al Nahyan, and H.H. Shaikh Hazza bin Zayed Al Nahyan, Vice President of Al Ain Club

 

Al Ain (Al Ainawee) qualified for the 2006 AFC Chamions League with victory over Al Wahda (Al Wahdawee) here at Zayed Sports City stadium on Thursday night to claim the UAE season ending President's Cup for the third time in their histroy. The match was watched by Deputy Prime Minister H.H. Shaikh Sultan bin Zayed Al Nahyan, H.H. Shaikh Hazza bin Zayed Al Nahyan, Vice President of Al Ain Club, H.H. Shaikh Abdullah bin Zayed Al Nahyan, Minister of Information and Culture, member of Al Ain Club, H.H. Shaikh Saeed bin Zayed Al Nahyan, President of Al Wahda Club, H.H. Shaikh Nahyan bin Zayed Al Nahyan, Vice President of Al Wahda Club and H.E. Nahyan bin Mubarak Al Nahyan, Minister of Education.

Two extra-time goals saw AFC Champions League quarter-finals Al Ain defeat Abu Dhabi rivals Al Wahda 3-1 on Thursday to claim the UAE season ending President’s Cup for a third time in their history. The victory was sweet revenge for Al Ain after Al Wahda claimed the 2004-2005 league title to prevent the ‘Purple Nation’ from celebrating their fourth consecutive national championship.

Shehab Ahmed and Baubaker Sanogo's extra-time goals powered Al Ain to a thrilling 3-1 victory. The regular time ended 1-1 stalemate and the two sides were forced to play additional 30 minutes during which Al ain had the upper hand and scored twice to the delight of their Romanian Coach Milan Macala who danced to glory in front of the TV cameras.

Milan Macala said his players deserved the trophy after battling hard through a long and arduous season.“I’m just happy for the players and the club management and I think we created more chances and deserved to win tonight,” said the burly Czech.

“It has been a tough season as we had to concentrate in both, the league as well as the continental championship at the same time. We had no respite from those two competitions since we began training for the President’s Cup and we’ll now take a short break before beginning our training camp in Switzerland and Spain a month’s time from now.”

 

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Al Ain vs Al Wahda
Al Ainawees are waiting for successful strike
against Al Wahda in President's Cup 2005

at Zayed Sports City, Abu Dhabi, UAE
Full Screen QTVR

 

Al Ain vs Al Wahda
Purple Nation (Al Ainawees) celebrating their victory
against Al Wahda in President's Cup 2005
at Zayed Sports City, Abu Dhabi, UAE
Full Screen QTVR

 

Al Ain vs Al Wahda
Happy Al Wahdawees after 1st goal
in the first half of President's Cup 2005

at Zayed Sports City, Abu Dhabi, UAE
Full Screen QTVR

Al Ain vs Al Wahda
A tense moments for Al Wahdawees
in 2nd half of President's Cup 2005

at Zayed Sports City, Abu Dhabi, UAE
Full Screen QTVR