Al Ain Crushes Sharjah 3-0, Advancing Closer to Pro League Cup Semifinals

Al Ain took a commanding step toward the UAE Pro League Cup semifinals after beating Sharjah 3-1 away from home in Saturday's quarter-final first leg. The victory puts Al Ain in strong position ahead of the return match, with Moroccan striker Hussein Rahimi stealing the show with two crucial goals.

Rahimi dominated the opening exchanges and made his mark early. He opened the scoring in the 20th minute with a precise header, capitalizing on a cross from Rafael Rodriguez. Just five minutes later, he doubled Al Ain's lead after a brilliant through ball from Kodjo Laba left him one-on-one with Sharjah's goalkeeper.

Al Ain controlled the first half completely. Sharjah struggled both technically and tactically, with their players unable to match the visitors' pace and precision during those opening 45 minutes.

The second half saw Sharjah push for a comeback. They created several chances and finally got their reward in the 88th minute when Igor Cornado scored from outside the box to cut the deficit. But any hopes of a dramatic comeback were quickly crushed.

Deep into stoppage time, Matias Palacios restored Al Ain's two-goal cushion with a free kick from outside the penalty area in the 90+10th minute. The goal effectively sealed the result and gives Al Ain a significant advantage heading into the second leg.

This result highlights Al Ain's strong form in domestic cup competition. Their clinical finishing and tactical discipline away from home puts them in the driver's seat for a semifinal berth. Sharjah will need a remarkable turnaround in the return leg to keep their cup dreams alive.