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Al Wahda will have to wait another day

Al Wahda scored a 2-1 win away at Bani Yas at the Al Shamkhah Stadium but their closest rivals Al Jazira stayed in the hunt, but only just, with a 4-2 win away at Al Ahli at the Shaikh Rashid Stadium in Dubai.

Al Wahda are still five points clear of Jazira and travel to Sharjah on Friday, while Jazira host Ajman. Al Wahda just need a point from the remaining two games. Watched by 8,187 spectators at the Al Shamkhah Stadium in Bani Yas, Andre Luciano Pinga and Fernando Baiano scored for Al Wahda, while Modibo Diara scored for Bani Yas.

In other games, third-placed Al Ain relegated President’s Cup winners Emirates with a 5-3 victory at the Khalifa bin Zayed Stadium in Al Ain. Al Nasr defeated Al Shabab 3-2 at the Al Maktoum Stadium in Dubai, while Al Dhafra drew 1-1 with Sharjah at the Al Dhafra Stadium. In another game, Ajman beat Al Wals 4-3 at the Rashid bin Saeed Stadium in Ajman.

It was Bani Yas who made some threatening forays and had the better of the chances in the first half. Sultan Ali Al Ghafri’s dangerous shot was collected by goalkeeper Adel Mohammed Ali in the early minutes of the first half.

Wahda had their first opportunity in the 24^th minute but Ismail Matar fired his shot over the bar after a Mohammed Al Shehi try came off a defender and fell in Matar’s lap.

Wahda went ahead three minutes later after Ismail Matar was fouled by the Bani Yas goalkeeper Mohammed Ahmed Mohammed but the penalty decision by the referee Ali Hamed looked questionable. Andre Luciano Pinga made no mistake with the penalty, firing his left-footer home as the goalkeeper Mohammed Ahmed Mohammed dived the wrong way.

But Wahda’s lead was short-lived as Bani Yas earned a penalty as well after Andre Senghor was fouled by Pinga. Diara was spot on with the penalty in the 30^th minute.

Bani Yas thought they had taken the lead 10 minutes later, when Diara sent his header home, but he was ruled offside. The decision looked questionable. A minute later, they had another chance but Haboosh Saleh Hboosh’s shot from close range went over the crossbar.

With just a minute left to go for half-time, Wahda took the lead through Fernando Baiano. Baiano, who was coming back after a three-game suspension, got a neat ball in and shot it over the advancing goalkeeper Mohammed Ahmed Mohammed.

Bani Yas searched for the equaliser and almost got it but Sultan Ali Al Ghafri’s long ranger just went wide off the post. The goalkeeper Adel Mohammed Ali was a bit late to react but he had it covered in the end.

james@khaleejtimes.com