ABU DHABI: Al Wahda clinched a dramatic 3-0 victory over Al Nasr to lift the 2017 President’s Cup. The Abu Dhabi-based club thus consigned a 17-year long wait to history after they were crowned champions by His Highness Sheikh Mohammed Bin Rashid Al Maktoum, Vice-President and Prime Minister of the UAE and Ruler of Dubai at the Zayed Sports City Stadium in Abu Dhabi on Friday.
Also in attendance at Al Wahda’s coronation was Sheikh Hamdan Bin Mohammed Bin Rashid Al Maktoum, Crown Prince of Dubai and Chairman of the Dubai Sport Council, besides other dignitaries.
While the humidity soared in the Capital, the atmosphere was equally feverish on the pitch, as a brace from Hungarian international Balazs Dzsudzsak and a sensational strike by Tareq Ahmed helped the Clarets garner glory at the UAE football’s showpiece competition, for only the second time in the history of the club after their inaugural win in 2000.
The victory also helped the Capital club book a berth in the 2018 AFC Champions League.
Al Wahda coach Javier Aguirre was beaming with joy at his first-ever President Cup final. “The first half was tight, both teams had opportunity to score, but it was very tactical. We played well in the second half. The penalty and the red card was a big advantage for us,” said the Mexican.
“I would also like to congratulate the Al Nasr team; they played well, but unfortunately there is only one Cup. I offer this victory to the Al Wahda fans, they have been very supportive,” added Aguirre.
On Friday, after a lacklustre first half, all the action came in the second half and that too in a span of 14 minutes. It was a penalty awarded to Al Wahda in the 68th minute that broke the deadlock. Captain Ismail Matar put in a cross to Khalil Ibrahim who tipped it over to Sebastian Tagliabue. The Argentinian forward then dashed ahead but was tripped in the box by the outstretched hands of Masoud Suliman, who was on the ground. The referee awarded a penalty and Suliman who had got his second yellow card was ordered off the pitch.
Dzsudzsak who stepped up to take the spot-kick, was lucky to get the goal as his shot, which was handled by goalkeeper Ahmed Shampi rebounded back to him after it hit the framework. This time though the striker got it right into the net.
10-man Al Nasr
Reduced to 10 men, the Dubai club tried to come back into the game, but were dealt a severe blow when Al Wahda increased their tally two minutes later, as Ahmed put his name on the scoresheet.
And, with less than 10 minutes to go for the final whistle, Dzsudzsak drove the final nail, sending a powerful volley from 35 yards out into the back of the net.
Early in the first half, it was Dan Petrescu’s men who had their moment in the 26th minute when the 27-year-old Moroccan forward Abdelaziz Barrada dropped a fine cross from the left flank into the box, but with no Al Nasr player in close proximity, the Al Wahda goalkeeper Rashed Alsuwaidi safely collected it.
Three minutes later Barrada missed a chance to put his side ahead when he headed the ball off the target.
Al Wahda then had their golden scoring opportunity with only 10 minutes left for the lemon break when Captain Ismael Matar chipped in a corner kick to the centre of the goal which was deflected by the goalkeeper Ahmed Shampi. But instead of the ball being pushed to safety, it landed in the path of Sebastian Tagliabue, who chested it well but mistimed his shot and the ball went above the woodwork.
The Argentinean forward’s powerful volley in the 29th minute saw the ball heading towards the goal, but failed to get past the keeper, who managed to palm it away to safety.
The end-of-season victory for Al Wahda was well deserved as they began their President’s Cup campaign on a very strong note, thrashing Abu Dhabi rivals Al Jazira 6-0 in the quarters before getting the better of Sharjah 1-0 in the semi-finals last month to make it to the finals.
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