ABU DHABI // Al Wahda’s defence of the Arabian Gulf Cup suffered a blow after a crushing 4-2 defeat to Al Dhafra on Thursday at Al Nahyan stadium.
Omar Kharbin put the visitors ahead with just four minutes played and the visitors went into the break 2-0 up as Abdullah Al Jaberi struck in first-half injury time.
Hamdan Al Kamali pulled Wahda back into the tie with a goal just before the hour-mark and the hosts were level 12 minutes later when Khalil Ibrahim reacted quickest to a rebounded effort inside the area to pounce for the equaliser.
• Arabian Gulf Cup results: Asamoah Gyan marks Al Ahli debut with goal against former club Al Ain
Wahda looked the more likely to add to their tally but Argentine striker Sebastian Tagliabue’s header crashed against the crossbar. With time running out and the game looking destined for a draw, Wahda were undone by a double whammy as Adil Hermach and Makhete Diop struck late for the visitors to snatch all three points at the death.
Hermach, the Moroccan international who plied his trade at Wahda for one-and-a-half seasons from 2013, smashed Diop’s cross into the back of the net two minutes from time. Diop then rounded off the win by knocking in a pass from Syria international Kharbin following a swift counter-attack in added time.
The victory takes Dhafra’s tally to six points from their two games in Group A, while Wahda are fifth with a solitary point.
In the night's other matches, Sharjah came out all guns blazing in the second half to rout Emirates Club 5-1 to record their first win in this season's Arabian Gulf Cup.
Adrian Mierzejewski goals bookended a fine attacking performance from Sharjah, with efforts from Yousef Saeed, Jamal Maroof and the Venezuelan Gemlin Rivas sandwiched in between.
Sebastian Sacha had earlier cancelled Mierzejewski’s third-minute strike for Emirates to go into the break level at 1-1.
An own goal with a minute from time put paid to Baniyas' chances of sharing the spoils with Dibba in the earlier kick off in Group B.
Baniyas player Hassan Al Muharrami hooked a long ball into his own net as Dibba grabbed a 3-2 win at the Fujairah Stadium.
The home side took the lead twice through Ahmed Ibrahim goals, one in each half, but Baniyas cancelled each time through Joaquin Larrivey, the second an 85th-minute penalty when the Dibba goalkeeper Fahd Mohammed brought down Amer Omar in the area.
The win moved Dibba level on points with Al Ain, Al Nasr and Al Ahli in the seven-team Group A, three points behind leaders Al Shabab.
RESULTS:
Wednesday, September 7
• Hatta 0 Al Wasl 2
• Kalba 0 A Shabab 3
• Al Ahli 5 Al Ain 1
Thursday, September 8
• Dibba 3 Baniyas 2
• Al Wahda 2 Al Dhafra 4
• Sharjah 5 Emirates 1
Follow us on Twitter @NatSportUAE
Like us on Facebook at facebook.com/TheNationalSport
