AL AIN 0 AL WAHDA 1
Al Wahda - Tagliabue 13'
Man of the Match - Adel Al Hosani (Al Wahda)
AL AIN // For the second time in as many games at the new Hazza bin Zayed Stadium, fans of Al Ain left disappointed.
After Al Dhafra had spoilt the party in the opening match played at the swanky, 25,000-seat venue on January 24, Al Wahda added further frustration by handing out a 1-0 defeat on Friday night.
The result revived Wahda's hopes of a top-four finish after displacing Al Ain from the fifth spot, taking their tally to 28 points in Arabian Gulf League play, 14 behind the leaders Al Ahli with eight games left.
“After this win, I think we know can have some hopes to play in next year’s Asian Champions League,” said Jose Peseiro, the Wahda coach.
“Al Ain was a big hurdle to clear. It was a very close and exciting game and had everyone on their edge of the seats throughout the 90 minutes. At the end, the team that scored won.
“I think both teams had equal scoring opportunities, but we got it first. Our goalkeeper [Adel Al Hosani] was outstanding on the night. He made some excellent saves.
“I must congratulate all my players because it was good team effort.”
Sebastian Tagliabue’s first-half goal was enough for the four-time league champions.
Tagliabue chested a long ball from Adel Abdullah and, with superb control, deceived both centre backs Ismail Ahmed and Mohaned Salem before shooting into the corner of the net to give the visitors the lone score of the game.
Wahda could have scored earlier, had Mohammed Al Shehhi not been offside when Damian Diaz fired a rebound to the back after Khalid Essa, the Al Ain keeper, blocked Tagliabue’s effort from outside the box.
Yassine El Ghanassy twice came close to scoring. The Belgium-born Moroccan’s close-range shot was smothered by Hussain Fadel, the Kuwaiti centre back, and his other opportunity after slipping past a couple of defenders was sent wide of the far post.
Asamoah Gyan had a chance to level the scores when he made a good steal from Eisa Ahmed to get close to the six-yard box, but his effort had the power but not the direction, as the Wahda keeper Al Hosani had the angle well covered.
Ismail Ahmed was twice off-target. His header off a corner went agonisingly wide of the far post and he also fired a close range shot over the bar.
In between, Al Hosani made an excellent save to deny Gyan from scoring. He dived to his left to push out the Ghanaian striker’s close range header off a long ball.
Al Ain were without two of their key players, Omar Abdulrahman, the influential midfielder who is facing a lengthy absence with a knee injury, and the Australian forward Alex Brosque.
“They are important players, but that is not an excuse for the loss tonight,” said Quique Sanchez Flores, the Al Ain coach.
“You can’t win games without goals. We created a lot of scoring opportunities, but couldn’t get a single one into the back of the net. It is indeed a disappointing result for us.”
apassela@thenational.ae
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OTHER RESULTS
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Emirates 1 Al Ahli 2
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Al Ahli took their total to 42 points at the top of the table with a 2-1 win over Emirates, despite being reduced to 10 men. Goals from Grafite and Ismail Al Hammadi were enough to ensure German Herrera’s late penalty was a mere consolation. Luis Jimenez was given his marching orders for a second booking.
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Al Jazira 2 Al Dhafra 2
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Al Jazira let a two-goal lead slip to be held to a draw by Al Dhafra. Abdullah Mousa and Abdelaziz Barrada gave Jazira the lead at the Mohammed bin Zayed Stadium, but Makhete Diop, right, converted a penalty and a Rogerio goal forced a share of the spoils at 2-2, after the hosts had Barrada sent off.
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