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Giants set for semis

Dubai - Wasl meet Wahda and Shabab take on Ahli in AGC

Dubai plays host to the semifinals of the 2015-16 league-cum-knockout Arabian Gulf Cup soccer competition today.
Defending champions Al Nasr could not manage out of the tight qualifying group situation and this leaves the four remaining contenders from the two pools - Al Wasl, Al Wahda, Al Ahli and Al Shabab fighting it out in the last four stage.
At 5:10pm, the Zabeel Stadium (Al Wasl stadium) will be the venue to the first of the semifinals as Al Wasl gain home advantage for finishing top of Group A with 14 points, taking on Group B runners-up Al Wahda, who finished the group stage on 10 points from just two wins and four draws.
Both teams have been out of the silverware hunt for some time, never having won the Arabian Gulf Cup since its establishment in 2008/09, and will be desperate to get one step closer to winning a title.
From 7:45pm the second semifinal will see a classic Dubai derby between Group B winners Al Shabab and Group A runners-up Al Ahli at the Maktoum bin Rashid Al Maktoum Stadium (Al Shabab stadium).
Al Shabab finished top of their group by virtue of four victories, one draw and one loss in the group stage, whilst Al Ahli finished unbeaten in their group with two wins and four draws to book their spot in the semis.
With a taste for titles after last season's GCC Club Cup triumph, Al Shabab are now seeking a domestic trophy, with a history of having won the Arabian Gulf Cup once before in 2010/11, whilst Al Ahli are targeting their third Arabian Gulf Cup as the most-crowned team in the competition with two previous wins in 2011/12 and 2013/14.
Al Shabab drew 1-1 with Fujairah when the coastal side hosted the Greens from Al Mamzar, Dubai in December in the final group fixture. The Dubai outfit have a traditional rivalry against their more formidable neighbours Reds (Al Ahi). Al Ahli surprisingly struggled against far away Al Dhafra in Abu Dhabi before scampering home with a one goal apiece stalemate in their concluding pool encounter, again in December. Al Wahda had a clearcut 2-0 victory against hosts Sharjah late last year in their final pool outing while the Cheetahs (Al Wasl) hammered hapless Emirates 4-1 in an away fixture.
One gratifying aspect for injury ridden Al Ahli is the return of Brazilian striker Ciel who is raring to have a go in a fresh beginning this season.
His presence will be a big boon considering the dent left in forward line due to the injury to star striker Rodrigo Lima. Ciel is back after a serious double fracture to his ankle.
His moves and fitness looked in place as usual when he troubled Al Wasl in his first outing this season in the Arabian Gulf League.
Thirty three-year old Ciel who played in the first 11 against the Yellows (Al Wasl), Monday last, said: "The reception the fans gave me when I returned gives me a big confidence boost and a lot of motivation to give my best and help my teammates to achieve positive results for the club."
moni@khaleejtimes.com