ABU DHABI // Gabriel Calderon was banished from the dugout in his first game in charge, but his new team Al Wasl did well to return with a point from Al Wahda on Saturday.
Ederson opened the scoring for the visitors and Caio regained it off a counter attack, but Wahda rallied to level both times through Sebastian Tagliabue’s spot kick and Amer Omar to remain the only unbeaten team in the Arabian Gulf League last night at the Al Nahyan Stadium.
Wahda missed a flurry of scoring chances and were unlucky to hit the woodwork twice.
Tagliabue’s header bounced off the ground and ricocheted off the crossbar in the first half and the same result came from a similar effort from Mohammed Al Shehhi off a corner kick.
While Wahda were misfiring at one end, Wasl struck at the other.
Fabio de Lima worked down the right flank before slipping a short low pass to Ederson, who blasted it past Adel Al Hosani, the Wahda goalkeeper.
Tagliabue was able to equalise 10 minutes later from a spot kick he earned after being pulled down by Abdullah Malallah.
Almost 25 minutes after the break Khalid Jalal made a bad fumble while trying to stop a high ball with his chest in the opponents’ half and Ederson took advantage. The Brazilian made a quick clearance that allowed Caio to dash in and beat Abdullah Al Noobi. Caio then rounded keeper Al Hosani to regain the lead.
Wahda coach Jose Peseiro made a double substitution at that stage and sent in Ismail Matar and Damian Diaz. The pair had an immediate impact that resulted in the second equaliser when Tagliabue sent a looping cross for Omar to volley and level the scores.
Matar’s appearance was his first of the season and Diaz, the Argentine midfielder, was making his return to the pitch for Wahda after missing three games because of injury.
Kalba 2, Ajman 3
A late surge gave Ajman all three points as they won 3-2 at Kalba on Saturday to earn their first victory of the 2014/15 Arabian Gulf League season.
Promoted Kalba had held the lead twice, only to surrender two goals in the final seven minutes. Khalifa Salem gave the hosts the lead after 33 minutes, with a shot that just crossed the goal line, only for Boris Kabi to equalise just before the break.
Wael Ayan restored Kalba’s lead with a low shot from distance on 57 minutes. Haddaf Abdulla brought Ajman level with a curling finish seven minutes from time and Kabi scored the winner from the penalty spot four minutes later.
apassela@thenational.ae
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