Al Wasl 0 Al Ahli 0
STORY OF THE MATCH
DUBAI // A share of the spoils in the Dubai derby, when nothing could separate Al Wasl, the Arabian Gulf League leaders, and Al Ahli, its reigning champions, at a crammed Zabeel Stadium on Monday night.
Almost 8,500 spectators watched what felt like the season’s first genuine big-game showdown, a match in which Ahli dominated but could not find the way through. As such, their winless streak swells to three matches.
Wasl played their part, too, withstanding their opponents’ superiority and at times riding their luck, to remain the campaign’s early pacesetters. A run of seven successive victories was brought to an end, although they will view this as a point well earned.
For that, they can offer Habib Fardan a large slice of the thanks. The former Wasl midfielder should have twice given Ahli the lead in the first half, but he twice fluffed his lines. First, Fardan somehow lifted Ismail Al Hammadi’s centre high over the Wasl crossbar from six yards out. Then, from even closer range, he directed Everton Ribeiro’s cross directly at Rashed Ali in the hosts’ goal. The fact Fardan once also plied his trade for Al Nasr, Wasl’s bitter rivals, was not lost on the home crowd.
Fardan would draw the ire of his own club’s fans later, when not long after the hour, he failed to connect properly with a loose ball in the Wasl penalty area. Teammate Khamis Esmail almost pounced, but Ali gratefully smothered. Then, moments afterwards, Ahmed Khalil sent a sweet, left-footed volley just wide.
Wasl, though, were close to taking an undeserved lead in the 76th minute, but Ronaldo Mendes curled his shot beyond Majed Naser’s far post from 12 yards out. He really should have scored. Then, Caio headed straight at Naser, before the Brazilian led a breakaway three minutes from time yet screwed his shot across the Ahli goal. Almost in unison, his teammates sunk to the ground.
And that was it: spoils shared, Wasl’s strong start to the season maintained. Ahli’s regrettable run, meanwhile, continues.
MAN OF THE MATCH — Khamis Esmail
The Al Ahli midfielder was a commanding presence in the centre of the park, with his distribution typically on point. He was ably assisted by teammate Majed Hassan.
WHAT THE MANAGERS SAID
Rodolfo Arruabarrena, Al Wasl "The match was good for all the fans who watched it. Al Ahli were a little better than us, although in the second half we had a clear situation to score. I am very proud of my team. They showed they have character in a very important match, against the champions. We played against a team with much more money and many national team players. But we showed we can compete."
Cosmin Olaroiu, Al Ahli "Forgive me, the last press conference I said it was another day in which football lost. Today I have to say, from the game, only football won. This was a football game: both teams trying to play, great spirit and aggression, supporters and all the ingredients for a football match. I wish I played all the games like this. We have to continue. If we play like this in all games, we will have no problem."
NATIONAL VERDICT
Ahli created more than enough opportunities to put the game out of sight, chiefly through Fardan. However, Wasl threatened to steal it late on — and really should have. They would emerge the happier of the two.
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