Al Ain put the finishing touches to advance to the quarter-finals of the UAE Pro League Cup despite suffering a 1-0 loss to Emirates Club, in Ras Al Khaimah, on Tuesday.
Going in with a 2-0 first leg advantage, the visitors enjoyed long spates of possession, but were ultimately forced to return with 1-0 loss and yet advance on a 2-1 aggregate and book the second-last spot in the last eight stages of the competition.
New signing Yago Leonardo from Brazil back-heeled the all-important goal in the 78th minute to give Emirates Club the lead.
The home team then came close to scoring on a couple of occasions after that goal, but that 1-0 result on the night was all they could earn.
Al Nasr, Ajman, Ittihad Kalba and Al Wasl had booked their places on Monday night to join automatic qualifiers, league winners Al Jazira and defending champions Shabab Al Ahli.
The eighth and final spot in the quarter-finals will be decided after Al Wahda host Khor Fakkan on November 7.
Al Ain have won the UAE Pro League Cup crown just once – during the inaugural professional season in 2008-’09 - when they had beaten Al Wahda 1-0 in the final.
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