AL JAZIRA 1 AL WAHDA 1
Al Jazira - Vucinic 87'
Al Wahda - Tagliabue 90'
ABU DHABI // Jose Peseiro, the Al Wahda coach, said he was disappointed not to win but enthusiastic at the "spectacle" put on by the competition's top two teams when they met at the Mohammed bin Zayed Stadium.
He said a draw was acceptable after such a spirited match.
Sebastian Tagliabue fired a late equaliser for Al Wahda to snatch the 1-1 draw against Al Jazira to stay on top of the Arabian Gulf League table.
The capital’s derby reached a climax in the final few minutes with Mirko Vucinic’s 87th-minute goal cancelled out two minutes later, and the crowd were on the edge of their seats until the final whistle was blown.
“The two teams provided a UAE National Day spectacle,” said Jose Peseiro, the Wahda coach.
“It was a good game with both teams creating scoring chances. I must congratulate my players for the fighting spirit they showed to score the equaliser after Jazira had score first.
“When two big teams play it is not easy to create many scoring chances. The goals arrived late in the game but they could have also come earlier in the game.
“If we can’t win a draw is the next best result. So we are happy to return from an away point.”
Eric Gerets, the Jazira coach, felt they could have even lost the game at the end.
“Our players thought the match was over having scored three minutes from time,” said the Belgian. “We could have even lost at the end. So it was a disappointment after scoring a beautiful goal.”
Vucinic’s strike from outside the six-yard box off a chipped pass from Jonathan Pitroipa had the home fans on their feet.
Their joy was short lived as Tagliabue chested a long ball from the Moroccan international Adil Hermach before smashing it to the back of the net.
Adel Al Hosani, the Wahda goalkeeper, was outstanding. He made two excellent saves, blocking a powerfully struck low shot from Ali Mabkhout and recovered quickly to save the second on the rebound from Vucinic.
Al Hosani denied Vucinic from scoring in the second half with a superb reflex save. He dived to his right to push out a header from the former Juventus striker from inside the six-yard box.
Apart from Ismail Matar, the Wahda forward who has not played a full game this season for the club or the national team, both teams had their best players in their line-ups as the league resumed from a month’s break.
apassela@thenational.ae
Follow us on twitter at @SprtNationalUAE
