Gulf News - Al
Wahda started the New Year in style beating visiting Al Wasl 3-2 to share
the leadership of the first division domestic soccer league with Al Nasr
and Al Ain, each with 22 points at the end of the first round of the
competition.
The match hero was Ismail Matar, one of the youngest if not the youngest
player on the field. Matar, the captain of the UAE under 20 team, put Al
Wahda into the lead only 90 seconds into the game when Abdul Rahim Jumaa
led the attack on the left side before crossing to Fahad Massaood on the
right flank. Massaood's fierce shot was deflected by Ahmed Salim, the
visiting custodian, back to Massaood who crossed to Matar to shoot home an
early goal that promised more similar goals to the home team.
Al Wahda continued to press forward and Mohammed Salim Al Enazy's lobbing
header was miraculously tipped for a corner by Salim, ten minutes after
the goal.
But their dominance gave them a false sense of security and the Al Wahda's
players lost their concentration giving their visitors the chance they
were waiting for and Al Wasl came back to the match taking control of
midfield and pressing for the equaliser.
Basheer Saeed, the home team's left wingback, made a blunder and Khalid
Darwish snatched and passed to Iranian Farhad Majidi who proved the vast
difference between himself and his Argentinian striking colleague, Walter
Silvani, as the Iranian went past two defenders before placing into the
net to level the score, 26 minutes into the match.
The equaliser brought the home team's players back from their hibernation
and they soon took control of the field organising a series of fast
serious attacking moves. And with one minute before the break, Matar sent
Basheer clear on the left flank. Basheer's tremendous shot was blocked by
the defenders into Abdul Rahim's path and the latter found no difficulty
in scoring his team's second goal.
Al Wasl started the game after the breather going all out for a goal. That
was their mistake as the home team led some fast counter attacks which
should have resulted in more than a goal but lack of concentration in the
last touch and some good goalkeeping from Salim saved Al Wasl from a
humiliating defeat.
Tawfeeg Abdul Razag led a fast rebounding move on the left flank before
crossing the ball which was deflected by the bar to Matar to head home his
team's third goal, 16 minutes after the interval.
The home team went again into a siesta leaving the initiation of attack to
their guests who created a number of dangerous balls but Slivani missed a
sitter from inside the six yard area after Darwish sent him clear. He was
replaced later by youngster Tarig Darwish after the Al Wasl's coach,
Uruguayan Martin Lazarti realised the truth of the Arabic proverb that
says"Not all shining metal is gold" because not every
Argentinian is a Maradona or a Batistituta.
Farhad should have scored the equaliser again, 26 minutes into the second
half, but his first time effort was brilliantly saved by Ramadan Mallullah,
the home custodian.
One minute before the end of regular time of play, Darwish sent a curling
free kick to Ismail Rashid, the advancing defender who headed home his
team's second and last goal to remain with 11 points from as many matches. |