AL AIN STUNNED BY AL WASL IN DRAMATIC GAME
Al Ain was stunned by Al Wasl in the UAE Arabian Gulf League at the the Zabeel Stadium late on Saturday night.
Al Ain were three goals to the good well within the half hour through a brace from Yousuf Ahmad and one from Caio Lucas. But Caio Canedo and Fabio de Lima scored doubles themselves, the latter’s strike deep in stoppage time, as The Cheetahs left The Boss high and dry 4-3.
The win helped Al Wasl overtake Al Ain to third in the standings with 48 points. Meanwhile, Al Ain are now fourth with 46 points.
The two teams were keen on scoring first, while Al Ain were pinned down to the middle of the pitch. It was only a matter of time before Al Ain hit the ground running.
The Boss’ first real threat came on 15 minutes when Omar weaved his way from the right and teed it up for his brother Mohammed Abdulrahman. But Mohammed pulled the trigger a tad too early and missed. Then, Caio sent his left-footer from the left, over the cross bar.
Three minutes later, Yousef Ahmed played on to a neat through from Lee Myung Joo but his effort agonizingly just whizzed over the cross bar.
Al Ain finally breached Al Wasl’s fortress on 23 minutes with Omar sending a cheeky grounder from the byline and Yousuf getting even cheekier with a clever deflection.
The Boss were two goals ahead in the blink of an eye with Yousuf lobbing it over Humaid Abdulla following a Omar Abdulrahman long ball from the right, two minutes later.
The demolition, it seemed, was complete well within the half hour with Caio Lucas heading it home from the near post after Yousef had sent it across the goal.
The Cheetahs were gifted a way back into the game through a penalty shootout by Canedo as goalkeeper Khalid Eisa went the wrong way.
Al Wasl Comeback
Looking to reduce the deficit, the Cheetahs entered the second half. The host did reduce the margin on 56 minutes with Canedo precise with his header after Mendes had curled in the freekick from the left.
Al Ain could have pulled away but Caio Lucas couldn’t quite control his shot and fired it over after Omar had crossed from the right.
AL Wasl’s fightback was complete with a goal from Fabio de Lima in minute 77. But there was to be more to the tale as Lima slipped it in, in the third minute of stoppage time, as the Al Ain defence lay in tatters.
Al Ain 3
Goals: Yousuf Ahmad “two goals 23 – 25” Caio Lucas “29”
Starting Line-up: Khalid Eisa, Khalid Abdulrahman, Mohanad Salem Al-Enazi, Salem Al Azizi, Dawood Ali, Lee Myung-joo, Ahmed Barman, Caio Lucas, Mohammed Abdulrahman, Omar Abdulrahman and Yousuf Ahmad Moussa.
Substitutes: In: Rashed Muhayer Out: Mohanad Salem Al-Enazi “38”
In: Ibrahim Diaky Out: Rashed Muhayer “60”
In: Bandar Al-Ahbabi Out: Yousuf Ahmad Moussa “83”
Yellow Cards: Rashed Muhayer “41” – Omar Abdulrahman “45” – Salem Al Azizi “83”
Red Cards: No cards
Al Wasl 4
Goals: Caio Canedo “36-56” Fabio de Lima “77-90”.
Starting Line-up: Humaid Abdulla Ali, Abdullah Saleh Al-Junaibi, Waheed Ismail, Caio Canedo, Ahmed Abdulla Al Shamisi, Fabio de Lima , Sérgio Antônio, Ronaldo Mendes, Yasser Salem, Hazza Salem Al Faresi and Humaid Abdulla Abbas.
Substitutes: In: Hassan Amin Out: Hazza Salem “70”
In: Khalil Khamis Out: Sérgio Antônio “70”
In: Abdullah Jasem Out: Ahmed Al Shamisi “90”
Yellow Cards: Yasser Salem “34” – Waheed Ismail “63” – Abdullah Saleh “90”
Red Cards: No cards
Referees: The game referee was Mohamed Abdullah Hassan. The referee assistants were Mohamed Ahmed Yousuf and Ali Rashid Al Nuaimi. The fourth official was Khalid Al Mulla. The referee observer was Ali Khalfan while the game Commissioner was Abdul Rahman Al Hammadi.
