Wahda beat Ittihad 4-1 in AFC League match
4-1
Was the margin of Al Wahda’s win over Al Ittihad
abu dhabi — Al Wahda ended their losing streak in the AFC Champions League by thrashing Saudi powerhouse Al Ittihad 4-1 in the Group B match at Al Nahyan Stadium on Monday.
In another match, Al Zawra’a blanked Al Wasl 5-0.
After defeat to Lokomotiv Tashkent last week, Al Wahda came back strongly against twotime Continental champions from Saudi Arabia. A brace from Leonardo and one each from Mohamed Al Menhali and Ismail Matar were enough as Al Ittihad returned home with a consolidation goal through Nassir Al Shamrani.
The home team started with right intent and tested Al Ittihad early through Leonardo’s sharp free kick from outside the box. While the hosts looked for an early goal, they were bothered by Al Ittihad’s chief tormentor Fahad Al Muwallad who kept prodding from the right flank but Al Wahda defenders Mohamed Al Menhali and Ahmed Rashid were always equal to the task.
Al Wahda machinery, at front, centre and back, operated efficiently and in 16 minutes they were rewarded through this cohesion. Al Wahda striker Sebastian Tagliabue, from the right, tricked Al Ittihad defender Ziyad Al Sahahfi and slipped a sublime pass to the far post where a dashing Al Menhali placed the delivery into the back of the net. It was Al Wahda’s first goal in four games against Al Ittihad and coach Henk ten Cate and staff rushed out of the dug out in celebration.
And Al Wahda, for their own good, didn’t sit back but kept pushing. They came close through Tagliabue, Leonardo and Khalil Ibrahim. Al Wahda showed great teamwork. The strikers and mid fielders with quick-fire attacks kept Saudis on the back foot. They continued in same vein after the breather. And free-flowing Mohammad Abdulbasit got past Al Ittihad defenders but his shot crashed into the post. But luck finally smiled as Leonardo made it 2-0 in 52 minutes. However, Al Shamrani made away from a mixup between Al Wahda keeper Mohamed Al Shamsi and defender Hamdan Al Kamali to net.
Coach ten Cate introduced veteran Matar, which lent stability to proceedings. Later the skipper increased the lead with a classy free-kick from outside the box in 80 minutes. And Leonardo made it 4-1 by converting from Khalil Ibrahim back-heel assist. With this result, Al Wahda secured their first victory over much-fancied Al Ittihad in their fifth attempt and in grand style. Al Wahda move to second spot in the points table as Al Ittihad continue to remain on top.