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Wahda enter Cup semis

Sharjah - Clarets move to next phase on a better goal average compared to Dibba

Abu Dhabi's Al Wahda entered the semifinals of the Arabian Gulf Cup with a 2-0 victory over hosts Sharjah on Tuesday night.
Al Wahda, with 10 points, move into the next phase with a better goal average compared to Dibba, from Group B.
There was urgency in every move as it became a crunch game for the maroon-clad Clarets, especially after The King (Sharjah), who had an outside chance of progressing were aware that Dibba had earlier in the day logged 10 points with their 2-0 win over bottom-of-the-table Al Jazira in Group B.
Group leaders Al Shabab were already assured of a last four slot with the 12 points they had before this week's final group fixtures.
It was clean end-to-end soccer and it was not till the 39th minute that the yellow card came out of referee Yahya Al Mulla's pocket when Sharjah's Muhain Khalifa pulled the dangerous Al Wahda captain Ismail Matar down from the back.
The Clarets' Sultan Saif who worked hard throughout the night, broke the deadlock in the 49th minute, a lucky one though. From the rebound from Sharjah goalkeeper Rashid Ahmed's partial save off a strike by Suhail Almansoori, Saif curled it in to the left of the net.
The King's Yousif Saeed had all the time and space in the 60th minute to restore parity for the hosts but he unnecessarily delayed his strike and found himself alone finally with no one to pass to. And to the surprise of everyone, he passed backwards into the grateful hands of Al Wahda goalkeeper Adel Al Hosani.
Star import Jorge Valdivia, who substituted for Matar in the second half, found the target from an 83rd minute freekick, from outside the box to which Sharjah custodian Rashid Ahmed stood watching helplessly.
Earlier, 11 minutes into the first half, the Sharjah citadel came under grave danger as Matar tried to head home a high lob that came floating to the goalline, and after five minutes, Wahda's Mohammed Alakberi, from a quick run-in off a one-two touch passing bout with Suhail Almansoori, took a shot, while on the run.
Sharjah's import trio of skipper and defender Mauricio Ramos, returning from injury, playmaker Renato Caja and Wanderley Santos worked out various set-plays with the half-liners and forwards, only to find the faster moving Wahda midfielders and defenders always alert.
Almansoori was more than a handful for the Sharjah defence with his excellent inroads on the inside left but the tall and sturdy home defence assisted by Adbdulla Ahmed and medio Badar Abdulrahman, fended off danger with their superiority in the air. On one occasion in the 27th minute, off a goalmouth melee after an Almansoori initiative, Rashid Ahmed brought a timely diving save at the cost a corner.
Sultan brought the ball close to the goalline for a splendid pass in the 31st minute which the Sharjah defender Hamdan Qasim intercepted with a great sliding tackle.
moni@khaleejtimes.com