Murad Al Masri (Dubai)
Al Wasl qualified for the “Gold Square” of the President’s Cup, after beating Al Ain 2-1, in the match that was held at Zabeel Stadium, in the quarter-finals, and the “Emperor” owes credit to the Brazilian Gilberto, the “new striker”, who scored a “double”. In his second appearance in the team’s shirt, Al Wasl will meet in the next round with the winner of the Sharjah and Shabab Al Ahly match.
The most dangerous attempts came from Al Ain in the first minutes, specifically Jonatas’ launch from the right side, who hit a powerful ball that passed next to the left post, just two minutes after the kickoff.
Al-Ain continued to dominate, and had the most possession of the ball, but he did not succeed in finding the final decisive touch in front of the goal to continue the negative tie, and waited for Al-Wasl to threaten Al-Ain’s goal until Ramiro’s shot came from a direct free kick in the 37th minute.
Al-Ain received a penalty kick after a handball from Youssef Al-Muhairi after Jonathas’ cross, from which Laba scored a goal in the second minute of stoppage time for the first half.
Al Ain began with attempts to score the second goal at the beginning of the second half, by diversifying on the right and left sides, before Al Wasl gradually entered the atmosphere, relying on Ali Saleh’s speed.
Al-Wasl managed to equalize after a “chest” pass from Fabio Lima inside the area, but defender Rafael did not manage to remove it appropriately, to reach Gilberto, who did not hesitate to make a powerful shot into the net in the 60th minute.
Al-Ain tried to respond quickly with a surprising shot from Jonatas, which was blocked by the right post, then defender Edilson pushed it away in front of the goal line in the 62nd minute.
Al-Wasl threatened his opponent with an individual attempt by Ali Saleh, after dribbling and a shot that passed near the left post of Al-Ain’s goal in the 74th minute.
Al-Wasl snatched a second goal in stoppage time through Gilberto from a quick attack that he fired into Khaled Issa’s net. Al-Ain tried to equalize, but Yahya Nader’s shot passed next to the left post.
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