Al Wahda rout Dibba
dubai — Al Wahda put one foot into the final of the Arabian Gulf Cup with a clinical victory over Dibba at the Zayed Sports City on Friday night.
Argentine striker Sebastian Tagliabue fired a hat-trick as The Clarets worked off Dibba 4-2 in the first leg of their semifinal clash. Tagliabue has scored 10 goals so far in the competition.
Tagliabue scored on the third, 62nd and 81 minutes while Hungarian captain Balazs Dzsudzsak scored on 72 minutes. Diogo Da Silva scored a brace for Dibba but fell short against the Abu Dhabi side.
Dibba will have to wait until March 22 to make a match of it when they host the return leg at the Fujairah Stadium.
But going by Al Wahda’s showing, it seems a tough ask. Nevertheless, the two away goals will come handy for Dibba.
Al Wahda were up and away just three minutes into the game through Tagliabue, who latched onto a left-footed cross from Dzsudzsak and fired it home.
The Clarets were to add cushion to that lead through a penalty after Moroccan playmaker Mourad Batna was brought down inside the box.
Referee Yahya Al Mulla pointed to the spot and Tagliabue stepped up for a fine finish, two minutes past the hour mark.
Dibba found a way back into the game through Diogo Da Silva, who scored on 66 minutes after being fed by Yassen Mahmoud.
But Al Wahda pulled away yet again after winning the second penalty of the game. Batna was brought down inside the box by goalkeeper Mohamed Salem and Yahya Al Mulla awarded the penalty. And Dzsudzsak fired his left-footer past the shot stopper.
Tagliabue then completed his hat-trick after connecting to a Batna’s cross from the left, on 81 minutes. Diogo Da Silva managed to pull one back for Dibba, three minutes from time.