Coach Javier Aguirre got the response he wanted as Al Wahda threw themselves back into contention for AFC Champions League qualification with a commanding 1-0 victory against rivals Al Nasr.
The ex-Mexico supremo had labelled Friday night’s clash against the third-placed visitors the “most important game of the season” as he seeks to make good on the mandate agreed upon his summer arrival about a return to the continent’s premier club competition for the first time in six years.
A potent weapon in this quest proved the difference at Al Nahyan Stadium. Runaway Arabian Gulf League top scorer Sebastian Tagliabue lashed in during the sixth minute for his 17th strike this term, to which the surprisingly-limp Blue Wave were unable to respond.
The result moved Wahda to within three points of the vanquished – who had centre-back Khalifa Mubarak dismissed at the death for an off-the-ball scuffle – in fourth, also giving renewed hope to Al Wasl, Bani Yas and even Al Shabab about a late push.
The hosts started like a team stung by last weekend’s painful ‘Abu Dhabi Clasico’ loss at champions Al Ain, swamping all over an out-of-sorts Blue Wave.
Their endeavour gained instant reward, lethal Argentine marksman Tagliabue firing into the bottom corner after being played into space by on-rushing defensive midfielder Sultan Al Ghaferi.
Aguirre’s men went on to spurn a number of chances, right-back Mohamed Al Menhali firing over from close range, Tagliabue injuring UAE U-23 goalkeeper Ahmed Shambieh with a rasping shot and exciting youngster Mohamed Al Akbari lashing wide from a tight angle.
This profligacy was almost punished just before the break. Urged on by exasperated boss Ivan Jovanovic, Nasr broke at speed and forward Jires Kembo Ekoko was inches away from a seventh AGL strike as his low effort from 20 yards rattled the post.
The visitor’s consistency has seen them lose just one of their last six fixtures, handing them control of the battle for the likely third-and-final ACL spot through the league. But they simply weren’t at the races yesterday, Brazil striker Nilmar showing no sign of repeating last weekend’s hat-trick heroics while Chile playmaker Luis Jimenez was also uncharacteristically subdued.
They had only a snapped shot from defensive midfielder Tariq Ahmed on 70 minutes to show for a mildly-improved second-half showing as Wahda easily held on for an enlivening triumph which shakes up the battle for Asian football.
