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Al Wasl beat Bahraini side Al Muharraq 3-1 in GCC Clubs Championship

 

Dubai-based Al Wasl made a positive and important step towards winning the GCC Clubs Championship for the second time in their history after beating hosts Al Muharraq of Bahrain 3-1 in the 27th edition first leg match held this evening at Khalifa Sports City Stadium in Manama.

The two teams played the opening minutes with great care without creating any dangerous attacks and most of the work was concentrated on the mid zone. They demonstrated a balanced display but the visitors looked the better side.

Maryano Donda of Al Wasl tested his luck with a volley that went just close to the upright only 13 minutes into play. But the Bahraini striker Hussain Ali nicknamed "Pele" was the first to find the back of the net when he faced the goal in the 21st minute but his close-range shot was controlled by Al Wasl custodian Majid Nasser.

Both squads continued their attempts for Al Wasl to create their first real chance in the 25th minute when Donda's perfect header rebounded off the cross bar. The ball returned to Olivera who sent a strong volley followed by another from Donda but the goalkeeper Abdullah Al Kabe saved bravely. This was followed by a dangerous sitter for the hosts' team, but Al Sayed Dhiya's header missed the target. Al Wasl continued their domination of the game but without scoring to end the first session with a goalless draw.

Hussain Ali "Pele" gave his Bahraini side the lead only two minutes after the breather when he capitalized on a cross ball from the right flank that went past Al Wasl defenders and goalie for Pele to drive it home with great confidence. But the Bahraini fans' joy did not live long when Essa Ali brought the game to the first square with a rocket-like left footer in the 53rd minute for the two teams to restart searching for the winner. Al Muharraq created a lovely chance in the 68th minute through Esmail Abdul Latif, but his volley was deflected by the goalkeeper Majid Nasser to a corner and the substitute Rashid Essa made it 2-1 for Al Wasl five minutes later of a left footer that went straight into the right hand side corner.

The performance of both teams dropped down afterwards, but Al Wasl continued their attempts to add more goals and their efforts were soon paid dividends when Donda crossed the ball in front of the goal mouth for Olivera to headed home five minutes to time putting the game beyond the reach of the hosts' team to end the match in favor of Al Wasl with a 3-1 victory.

The two teams will play their second leg match on June 10 at Zabeel Stadium in Dubai.