Heartache for Team Wgton
Team Wellington suffered heartbreak at the Club World Cup, surrendering a 3-0 lead before losing in a penalty shootout.
The Oceania champions found themselves up by three goals after 44 minutes thanks to three well-taken goals at the Hazza Bin Zayed Stadium in Al Ain City yesterday, but the United Arab Emirates champions fought back to level the score at 3-3 by fulltime.
The match went through extra time with neither side able to find a decisive goal, so it was onto the dreaded penalty shootout.
After first-up successes, Al Ain’s $4 million-per-season man Marcus Berg missed their second penalty, sending his effort over the bar, but Angus Kilkolly had Team Wellington’s second penalty saved by Khalid Eisa.
The next two attempts for both sides both found the net, meaning it was down to sudden death. Caio scored for Al Ain, before Eisa saved Team Wellington captain Justin Gulley’s effort to send the Kiwis crashing out.
Team Wellington coach Jose Figueira said he was incredibly proud of the way his team played.
‘‘We put in a performance and a showing that showed we deserved to be here. We pushed them all the way and I said right from the start, as long as we’ve got that as a performance, I couldn’t be any prouder, and that’s how I’m feeling right now.’’
He thanked his players for a putting in such a big effort in the leadup to the match.
‘‘I have to apologise to my players because I put them through hell, I asked for a tremendous amount and today is probably the most that they’ve ever given. We took them to the wire and I think when the dust settles they’ll be hungry to come back to this stage and prove themselves again.’’