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Al Shabab and Al Wahda share points with a 1-1 draw

 

Al Shabab and Al Wahda shared points of their Etisalat Pro-League Round 19 match played tonight at Maktoum Bin Rashid Al Maktoum Stadium in Dubai. This lone point helped the hosts Al Shabab to preserve their third position on 29 points while the visiting squad Al Wahda jumped one step forward to take 4th place provisionally with 27 points, the same balance of Al Wasl who slipped to 5th spot on goal difference.

Al Wahda took control of the match in the opening minutes creating some raids that helped them to reach the host's goal area many times but they could not score. Al Shabab started to come back to the game making some good attempts that threatened their rivals. Their midfielder Essa Obaid was almost to give the home team the lead in the 14th minute but he squandered Josel Da Silva's (Ciel) perfect pass inside the box for Al Wahda's keeper Motaz Abdulla to save brilliantly. The same player sent a long-range volley three minutes later, but the goalie deflected it to a corner. A third sitter was lost by Villanueva from Chili in the 19th minute.

The two sides continued their shy attacks which could not lead them to the target. The visiting team missed the efforts of their first choice striker Ismail Matar along with other key players including Brazilian Fernando Bayano and his countryman Magrao, Hayder Alo Ali and Omar Ali due injury and Essa Santo due to suspension while the hosts played without the injured Adil Abdullah, besides Waleed Abbas and Hassan Ibrahim due to suspension.

The two teams played with great care, closing all the gaps that could lead to their goals and at the same time making every bit of work to take the lead. Both made few attempts that were spoiled by the defenders. Al Wahda's striker Salim Saleh made a lovely attempt when he headed the long ball switched from far behind, but it was saved bravely by keeper Motaz eight minutes before the interval. The first half ended with a goalless draw as the players of the two sides lost the few chances that came their way.

The hosts were the dangerous side from the very start of the second session. They had two successive opportunities in the 49th and 53rd minutes inside the six yard area, but they failed to make use of both of them. The most dangerous attempt was in the 75th minute when Brazilian player Josel Da Silva (Ceil) sent a severe shot off a stand ball, but Motaz Abdullah Al Wahda's keeper tipped it over the cross bar for a corner. Al Shabab pressed hard afterwards and their efforts were soon rewarded when Josel Da Silva received a long ball inside the box, faced the goalie before sending it into the net giving the hosts team a 1-0 lead six minutes before the final whistle, but Al Wahda's substitute Abdul Rahim Juma'a scored the equalizer two minutes into the additional time ending the game with a 1-1 draw.