DUBAI // Ivan Hasek, the Al Ahli coach, has urged his side to confine their Super Cup triumph to history and focus on the battles coming ahead. Ahli entered the record books as the first winners of the Super Cup with an extra-time triumph over Al Shabab. The President's Cup winners beat the defending League champions Shabab 1-0 in a dramatic season-opener on Sunday night.
The Red Devils, who finished third in Division One last season, travel to Al Nasr on Friday to start their Pro League campaign. Hasek wants his side to hit the training ground hard this week in preparation. "Every trophy is important for the club," he said. "This is the first time the Super Cup was played and I'm happy to win it. It will be good for the confidence of our players. "But tomorrow, this cup win will be history. We will be getting ready for the next game.
"If we don't win on Friday then everyone will start criticising us. It is normal. "So we need to put this win behind us and start preparing for the League." The Super Cup, ushering in a new era of professional football in the UAE, seemed destined for penalties as the teams failed to break the deadlock in regulation time and laboured in extra time. It was, however, eventually two penalties which decided the outcome of the game.
The Brazilian Clederson Cesar scored from the spot for Ahli in the 21st minute of extra-time, while his compatriot Carlos Renato missed a penalty at the other end in the final seconds. "Both the teams deserve to be congratulated," said Hasek. "It was the first game of the season and both teams played very well. It wasn't easy playing in this weather. It was 50-50 and we were lucky to win the game ."
The game was even but hardly spectacular as the energy-sapping conditions made it a toil. Drenched to their socks, the players, were unrelenting in spirit though and were not willing to give an inch. Saleem Saad could have put Shabab ahead in the 28th minute, but his volley on the turn missed the target. Saad had a couple of clear chances in the second half too, but he failed to take to make them count.
At the other end, Jader Spindler "Bare" headed onto the crossbar in the 35th minute. He also found the back of net in the 78th minute, but the goal was ruled out as he was offside. The Brazilian forward, however, was responsible for Ahli's winner, as he earned the penalty that Cesar deftly put away. Chasing a long ball into the box, Baare crashed into the Shabab keeper Ismael Rabea and the referee Mohammed Omar pointed to the spot. The decision looked debateable and the Shahab players protested vociferously.
Shabab had a chance to equalise and take the game to penalties when Suroor Salem was brought down inside the box in the final seconds of the game, but Renato shot wide with his spot-kick. "It was a good game for the supporters, but it was not so easy for us," said Hasek. "We conceded a last-second penalty. I think some players thought we had won the game before it finished. Thankfully we were not made to pay for it.
"Ahli were the lucky team today. Both teams cannot win - only one side can, and today it was us. "I am happy to win this trophy for my team and our supporters - but congratulations to Shabab for playing a great game." arizvi@thenational.ae
