Uruguayan Michel Araujo scored a well-deserved hat-trick as Al Wasl fought their way to a 3-3 draw against Al Ain in their first leg quarter-final of the UAE Pro League Cup, late on Friday.
Just when it looked like Al Ain was poised for a 3-2 win, Araujo snatched on a ball laid at his feet by substitute Haboush Saleh and hammered in past Khalid Eisa on the home team goal in the third minute of extra time.
Earlier, Kodjo Fo-Doh Laba had continued proving his utility with a fine brace as Al Ain stayed on track for a win.
The 29-year-old striker from Togo scoring his first from the penalty spot in the 19th minute to cancel out Araujo’s fifth minute opener for Al Wasl.
Laba, who has been with Al Ain since 2019, added a second goal in the 32nd minute when he thumped in a fine pull-back from Caio Canedo on the right flank.
Al Wasl kept their focus and fought back to draw level in the 43rd minute when Uruguayan midfielder Araujo slid in for his second on the night.
However, the home team once again took the lead when Canedo evaded his marker at the far end to poke in and make it 3-2 in favour of Al Ain deep into half-time injury period.
The two teams battled hard for a goal, and it was Araujo completing a fine hat-trick in the third minute of extra-time to leave it all when the two teams meet again in their second leg quarter-final on January 4.
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