DUBAI // Arabian Gulf Cup winners already this season, Al Nasr stand on the verge of President’s Cup glory, too.
The Dubai club’s previous trophy drought was always well documented, stretching back to 1989 and brought to an end, finally, last season by success in the GCC Clubs Cup.
It appears to have fostered a zeal for silverware.
Nasr’s latest knockout victory arrived at Al Maktoum Stadium on Saturday night, when Al Shabab, this season’s GCC Clubs Cup champions, competed defiantly despite recent exertions, but were eventually edged out on penalty kicks.
Played in predictably stifling conditions, the semi-final was settled by a shootout after Brett Holman had granted Nasr a second-half lead and Naser Masoud later levelled.
Next up, Al Ahli in Wednesday’s final, as Nasr attempt to capture the title that during the later part of the 1980s seemed their sole preserve.
Three-time President’s Cup champions, a fourth crown is only a matter of days away.
“What I can express now is the feeling of how proud I am for my players and all of Al Nasr club,” said Ivan Jovanovic, the victorious coach.
“We worked very hard throughout the year to be in the last game of the season, in the final of the President’s Cup, and we achieved it.
"I believe we deserve it after qualifying against Sharjah, Al Ain and Al Shabab. I also want to thank the team's fans, who came today to support us. We want to have them with us in Al Ain – we believe together we will bring the cup to Al Nasr."
They are there, in part, thanks to Holman’s opener. Beautifully crafted, the Australian exchanged passes with Ibrahima Toure moments after half time to score neatly past Salem Abdullah in the Shabab goal.
Yet the visitors responded admirably, just days following their GCC triumph in Oman.
Masoud, introduced at half time, notched the equaliser, although there was a rather hefty piece of good fortune attached.
Seconds earlier, the ball had ricocheted off Edgar Bruno’s outstretched arm then found its way to Masoud, whose tame shot bounced off two opponents before wrong-footing goalkeeper Ahmed Shambieh and nestling in the Nasr net.
Toure and Bruno exchanged decent opportunities in extra time and Pablo Hernandez even rocked the Shabab crossbar at the death, but the tie always looked likely to be decided from the spot.
Ultimately, Nasr proved to be spot on.
Unfortunately for Shabab, Bruno and Hassan Ibrahim were not.
“Congratulations to Al Nasr,” said Caio Junior, the Shabab coach.
“But I’m very happy with my players because to play one final in Oman three days before, to be champion, and then to play today – I have one fantastic group.
“I hope next season to try more, but we are champion of the Gulf, were third in the Arabian Gulf League and reached two semi-finals.
“The season was very, very important in the history of the club and I’m very happy. My first target when I came here was to be champion and we are.”
While Shabab can slip away into the summer, Nasr must regroup and refocus for one more challenge that is just 96 hours away.
“The final is one game,” Jovanovic said. “There is no time, but that doesn’t make any difference – we all want to be in the final and I have to prepare as a coach and also the players have to recover.
“When you have a final in front of you, there is no tiredness.”
jmcauley@thenational.ae
Follow us on Twitter at @NatSportUAE
