Al Wahda sneak into final
dubai — Al Wahda will be aiming for a second President’s Cup title in seven years after they got past Al Sharjah in the semifinals on Wednesday night.
Hungarian captain Balazs Dzsudzsak scored the penalty in the third and final minute of stoppage time at the Al Maktoum Stadium, to give The Clarets a solitary goal victory.
The Abu Dhabi club now have the opportunity to add to their lone President’s Cup title they had won in the 1999-2000 season.
They will take on the winner of the other semifinal between Al Nasr and Hatta, which will be played out at the Rashid Stadium on Thursday night.
Both teams had a fair share of chances in the first half with Chang Woo Rim and Sebastian Tagliabue coming close for Al Wahda, while Yousif Saeed had twin attempts, including a goal which was disallowed.
Al Wahda defender Chang Woo Rim headed it wide from six yards out, on eight minutes after which Al Sharjah striker Yousif Saeed dragged his shot wide of the post from the left, on 14 minutes.
Al Sharjah perhaps had a reason to be miffed after they had a goal disallowed on 38 minutes. Adrian Mierzejewski put it through nicely for Yousif Saeed, who shot at goal, but Al Wahda shot stopper Rashid Ali Al Suwaidi made a goalline save. But television replays showed that a large part of the ball had crossed the line.
At the other end, Sebastian Tagliabue came up with an attempt from the right corner of the box but Al Sharjah goalkeeper Mohamed Yousef did well to collect it.
The Clarets had an opportunity just after the break when the lanky Tareq Ahmed delivered a neat cross from the right but Tagliabue couldn’t get his header in.
Al Sharjah’s Venezuelan striker Gelmin Javier Rivas then made a foray from the left, on the hour, but his attempted shot from close range was cleared by the Al Wahda defence.
Waleed Ahmed then saw his volley go straight into Rashed Ali Al Suwaidi’s hands, five minutes later.
Al Wahda had another attempt on 79 minutes with Khalil Ibrahim making his way down the right and crossing it to Tagliabue. But the Argentine’s attempt was blocked by Mohamed Yousef. Al Sharjah threatened again in the dying minutes but agonisingly came up short as Rivas’ header from close range, just whizzed past the right post.
With three minutes of stoppage time left to be played, it seemed destined to head into extra time. But there was to be an unexpected twist to the tale with Rivas’ hand ball putting an end to Al Sharjah’s hopes.
Matar delivered a corner but Rivas hands came in the way as tried to head it to safety. And Balazs Dzsudzsak kept is calm to fire home the penalty, in the final seconds of stoppage time.
james@khaleejtimes.com