SHAMKHA // Catalin Raducan, Al Ahli's assistant coach, said his side were unlucky not to return to Dubai with full points after an equaliser in added time salvaged a 1-1 home draw for Baniyas in the Arabian Gulf Cup on Wednesday night.
Ahli had taken the lead just before half time through a Carlos Munoz goal and held it until the first second of five minutes of added time, when Saleh Al Menhali struck.
The visitors had earlier watched a free kick from Basheer Saeed crash against the post, and then another from Luis Jimenez's effort on the run of play resulting in the same.
“It is one of those days when things don’t go well for the team,” said Raducan, who is in charge until coach Cosmin Olaroiu returns from a one-month loan to lead Saudi Arabia at the Asian Cup in Australia from January 8 to 31.
“The result leaves us with a very slim chance of a semi-final place as both Baniyas and Al Dhafra have one game more than us.
“We can only try and win the next game [against Fujairah] and see what happens.”
Saeed’s low free kick from 30 yards crashed against the post, but it did not take long for the visitors to break the deadlock, with Munoz heading a corner kick from Jimenez shortly before the break.
Jimenez’s looping effort bounced off the post and the ensuing effort from Saeed Ahmed from inside the area was expertly pushed aside by Mohsin Al Hashmi, the Baniyas goalkeeper.
Baniyas, too, found one bouncing off the post, through a free kick from captain Yousef Jaber. They were also unfortunate as a goal from Bandar Al Ahbabi was disallowed for offside, even though television replays showed that the effort should have stood.
“It is best to leave the refereeing mistakes aside because it won’t change the result,” said Luis Garcia, the Baniyas coach, when asked if an early equaliser could have won them the three points.
“I’m satisfied with the result because my players fought until the end for this to split points, which means we still have a chance to reach the last four stage with two games in hand.”
Baniyas meet Al Wahda on Sunday and Al Dhafra on December 10. Sharjah lead Group B on 11 points, and they play Emirates in their last game.
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