Al Wahda book place in President’s Cup final after late penalty downs Sharjah

Al Wahda players celebrate their last-minute winner against Sharjah in the President's Cup semi-final. Jeffrey E Biteng / The National

Sharjah 0-1 Al Wahda

Wahda: Dzsudzsak (pen) 90'

Man of the match: Balazs Dzsudzsak (Al Wahda)

DUBAI // It took a last-gasp penalty, but Al Wahda are President’s Cup finalists, last year’s Arabian Gulf Cup winners now only one match away from the country’s most coveted crown.

Balazs Dzsudzsak sealed it in the dying moments against Sharjah at a noisy Al Maktoum Stadium, keeping his head when those on the Wahda bench could barely keep theirs. Gelmin Rivas had handled Ismail Matar’s corner in injury time, the Brazilian attempting to clear danger but instead presenting his opponents with a late, late gift.

Dzsudzsak coolly stroked home the spot-kick, beyond the despairing Mohammed Yousef in the Sharjah goal. Wahda’s backroom staff, who had initially turned away in anguish, swivelled back towards the action and rushed onto the pitch. Dzsudzsak raced off it and to the club’s jubilant fans.

There was no time for Sharjah to respond, no time for the eight-time winners of this competition to get back into the tie and push forward their quest to lift the title for a record ninth time.

Wahda, President’s Cup champions in 2000 and last finalists six years ago, now stand within touching distance of glory. Only Al Nasr or Hatta, who play on Thursday, can block their path.

“At the end of the story we tried to win all throughout the second half and got it,” said Javier Aguirre, the Wahda manager. “Our experience was important, when you have to show something to make the difference, and with the penalty at the end. We’re so happy to be in the final.”

They will not care, but Wahda should not have had to leave it so late. They were denied a perfect start on six minutes, when Dzsudzsak curled a free kick onto Rim Chang-woo’s head only for the unmarked South Korean to somehow head the ball down and wide. He was only six yards from goal.

Either side could have then grabbed the initiative: Yousef Saaed dragging a shot wide of the Wahda goal when through on goal but forced wide, while Sebastian Tagliabue shot straight at Yousef after racing clear of their defence. Again, the Argentine found himself at an awkward angle.

Seven minutes before half time, Sharjah thought they opened the scoring. Captain Adrian Mierzejewski beat the Wahda offside trap, but when he pulled the ball back to the onrushing Saeed, the winger’s shot was clawed away by goalkeeper Rashid Ali as he leapt behind his line. Replays later showed the ball had not fully crossed into the goal, but Sharjah had been prevented from taking the lead by matter of millimetres.

Rivas had a couple of half chances in the second half, but his most telling contribution came as extra time loomed. Much to his dismay, and that of everyone connected to the club, it was at the wrong end of the pitch.

“We are sad and no one expected a goal at that moment,” said an understandably deflated Jose Peseiro, the Sharjah manager. “My players did a good job but our performance deserved more.

“He is a good referee, but everywhere in the world a referee can commit mistakes, just like a coach or player can. And tonight, he committed a few. Unfortunately, those mistakes were against us. It wasn’t just once, he didn’t see the goal and it was a goal. The penalty too. It was a mistake, in my opinion, but it happens.”

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