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Al Shabab edge Al Wahda

Dubai - Shabab also won by an identical margin when the sides met in Abu Dhabi last year.

Determined home side Al Shabab beat Abu Dhabi visitors Al Wahda for the second time in the Arabian Gulf League with a late 1-0 victory, on Saturday.
The Mamzar, Dubai stationed Hawks are level with The Clarets from the Capital on 23 points from the 15 rounds played so far, and it took a thoroughly professional effort on their part to notch the win in Dubai last night. Shabab also won by an identical margin when the sides met in Abu Dhabi last year.
Azizbek Haydarov converted from the dreaded spot in the 85th minute after Wahda's Sultan Alghafri brought down Carlos Villanueva unfairly during a dangerous Hawks' foray.
Inside the first 10 minutes, new Al Wahda signing Chang Woo Rim almost made an instant impact on his debut as the South Korean defender forced a save from Al Shabab goalkeeper Salem Abdulla from a set piece, whilst three minutes later a good reflex stop from Adel Alhosani kept out Luvannor Henrique's header from a corner kick at the other end. Persistent fouls from either side disrupted the rhythm of a goalless first half, with few clear-cut shots on target to report.
Both sides elected to make a half-time change in an effort to liven up the game, with Rashid Hassan coming on for Dawood Ali for the hosts, and Khalid Bawazir replacing Amer Omar for the visitors, but it was young starter Mohammad Juma who came closest to breaking the deadlock with a low shot fizzing narrowly wide of the far post.
Still stuck in a deadlock, Al Wahda introduced 21-year-old striker Omar Alrashdi in the 64th minute to make his Arabian Gulf League debut, with the hope that the youngster might be able to find a decisive touch having scored 10 goals in 13 U21 League appearances so far this season. But in the 81st minute it was veteran forward Ismaeil Matar whose curled free kick from distance required a leaping save from Salem Abdulla to keep it out, and experienced defender Hamdan Al Kamali blazed wildly over the bar on the rebound.
Four minutes later, though, Al Shabab were handed the perfect opportunity to finally get a goal as the calm and cool Haydarov confidently converted to give Al Shabab a late but deserving victory.
sports@khaleejtimes.com