AL WASL 2 AL DHAFRA 2
Al Wasl - Berola 6', Ederson 33'
Al Dhafra - Ali Obaid 48', El Najjarine 50'
DUBAI // First-year manager Jorginho has conceded there is still plenty of work ahead after a familiar Al Wasl implosion on Monday night in which they wasted a two-goal advantage to split points with Al Dhafra in the Arabian Gulf League opener for both sides.
Wasl, who brought in 14 new players during the summer, looked in absolute command during the first 45 minutes.
Neto Berola crept in at the far post to head home Fabio Lima’s deep cross in the sixth minute for the opener.
Ederson doubled their tally with a cleverly chipped free-kick in the 33rd minute.
However, coming back after the break, the hosts looked a different side, a bit ragged.
Dhafra took full advantage with two goals in two minutes, both from Paulinho corners.
First, Ahmed Sulaiman found himself in the clear at the far post and flicked home to make it 2-1 three minutes after the interval.
The Lebanese defender Bilal Najjarine then headed home to level the score, almost before Al Wasl had time to settle.
At the break, Jorginho said he warned his players about exactly the same situation.
“I had told them that if they lost their focus for even a moment, it will cost us dearly,” the Brazilian said. “And that’s what happened.
“But we are a new team. Tonight, we started with only two players from last season. So we will need time to settle down as a team.
“We will have to put this result behind us and continue to work hard.”
Wasl were completely outplayed in the second period and Anel Karabeg, the Dhafra coach, believes with a bit more luck, his team could have won the game.
“If someone had offered me one point before the game, I would have been very happy to take it,” he said.
“But I believe we had an opportunity to get even more than that. It was just a matter of getting one good strike.”
arizvi@thenational.ae
OTHER GAMES
FUJAIRAH 0, EMIRATES 1
Emirates - Henrique 69'
Newly promoted Fujairah suffered a narow defeat in their first Arabian Gulf League fixture, kicking off with a 1-0 loss at the hands of visitors Emirates at the Fujairah Stadium. After a goalless first half, it was the visitors who broke the deadlock in the 69th minute. Luiz Henrique, above, struck from outside the area and watched as his shot took a slight deflection on its way into the net. Try as the might, Fujairah could not find an equaliser.
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