ABU DHABI // Toninho Cerezo hailed Al Shabab's 3-3 draw against Al Wahda as a "victory" for his side in the Etisalat Cup. With just 10 minutes to go in the game, last season's league champions were trailing 1-3 against their 10-man opposition. Suroor Salem brought the hosts back into the game with a header in the 80th minute and Salem Saad saved them the blushes with an 86th minute equaliser.
Al Wahda had played the entire second half a man short after Yasser Matar was sent off in the 44th minute. The visitors were also missing many players on national duty or due to injury. And they were also missing Fahad Masood. Wahda were not half the side who had crushed Al Ahli 4-1 in their last Pro League game. Yet, Cerezo, the Shabab coach, was a relieved man to get a point. "I am very, very happy," said the former Brazilian international. "I believe the draw was as good as a win for us.
"We had to fight hard for the one point. Of course, Wahda were without their UAE players and to play 45 minutes with a player less was really tough for them. But still, considering the quality of players they had on the pitch, I am happy with the way we played." Musawengosi Mguni, in his most impressive outing for Shabab, had opened the scores in the 19th minute with a classy volley on the run. But Saeed Salem al Kuthairi equalised for the visitors in the 24th minute with a header and then put them ahead in the 37th minute with a smart finish from the top of the penalty area. Essa Ahmed then weaved his way past three defenders and the Shabab keeper Salem Abdullah Rashid in the 77th minute to give Wahda a two-goal cushion.
Three minutes later, Suroor brought the Shabab fans back to life as he headed home Mehrdad Oladi's inch-perfect cross. And Saad earned a point for the hosts with an almost freakish goal four minutes from time. He floated the ball into the box for Mguni, who missed despite a desperate dive. But the ball spun viciously off the turf into the goal, leaving the Wahda keeper Ali Rabea stranded and stunned. "We were a bit lucky with that goal," admitted Cerezo. "Having said that, luck doesn't come without hard work."
The Wahda coach Ahmed Abdul Haleem was also pleased with the result. "When you play with 10 players against the champions, it is very difficult. We played without many of our regulars and I believe we did very well," said Haleem. Matar was sent off for bringing Oladi down and then stepping on the sprawled Iranian's fingers, which looked accidental. Meanwhile, the Al Ain coach Winfried Schaefer said he was banking on the youth to build a better future after his side edged out Ajman 1-0 in their opening round match.
"We are in a team building process and I am pretty satisfied the way things have moved so far," said the German. Ain were missing half their line-up due to international duties but Schaefer didn't make that an excuse for the narrow margin though he felt the team could have done better. "We have a lot of young players and it was a good opportunity for them. I thought it was a comparatively easier game but sometimes the players complicate it.
"We started well but we didn't play consistently enough after that goal, particularly the forwards. They were not up to the mark. I thought the defence was solid and I must make special mention of goalkeeper Waleed Salem and Ismail Ahmed and Darwish Ahmed. They saved the day for us." The Ajman coach Abdul Wahab Abdul Kader conceded they were up against a stronger opponent. "We relied on the counter attacks and created a few chances," he said. "The midfield and defence was strong, and they didn't leave much space."
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