Dzsudzsak looking to become a small part of Al Wahda history

Matt Jones - Editor 11:19 22/04/2017
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  • Balazs Dzsudzsak hopes he can carve out his own small piece of Al Wahda history by winning the President’s Cup with the Clarets next month.

    The Hungary winger coolly converted a 93rd minute penalty on Wednesday night that won a tight and tense semi-final against valiant Sharjah 1-0 – booking the Abu Dhabi side a spot in their seventh final, but a first in six seasons.

    The 2010/11 showpiece ended in misery and a 4-0 thrashing at the hands of fellow capital city side Al Jazira. It was also a familiar feeling for Wahda, who have lost four of the five finals contested.

    They also finished on the losing side in 1988/89, 1995/96, 2002/03 and 2004/05. Their sole victory came 17 years ago in the 1999/00 campaign and Dzsudzsak claims it would mean a lot to him and the club to beat Al Nasr, who overcame Hatta 1-0 on Thursday.

    “It would mean everything to win this trophy,” said the 30-year-old, who notched twice against Portugal in last summer’s epic 3-3 group stage draw at Euro 2016.

    “I’m very happy that after eight months I am here, we are already in the final and I can become a little part of the club history with these guys.

    “I’m very proud of the team because when I came here I said I wanted to win something. I saw the competency of the team and we are ready for the final, we deserve it so I’m very, very happy.”

    Former PSV and Dinamo Moscow man Dzsudzsak took his President’s Cup tally to three in three games in the competition, following his brace in the 6-0 humbling of Al Jazira in the last eight. And despite his relatively short time at Al Nahyan Stadium, he says he is fully aware of how the prestige of the competition.

    “It was very nice (to score), he added.

    “Very interesting in the last minute and it’s not a normal thing for us in the season because we never usually get the penalties. That moment came in the last minute and the coach put me in to take it, so it was a very nice feeling.

    “I was very confident. I knew how I was going to shoot and where and now we are in the final.

    “This week I had three meetings with the managers, the directors. Everyone was saying don’t worry about pressure, they just wanted to let me know what it meant for the club, for them.

    (In the final) I think we just have to look at ourselves. We have nothing to lose. We did our job and we are there, and we have to win.”

    It was something of a surprise to see Dzsudzsak handed penalty responsibilities with Argentine striker Sebastian Tagliabue on the field.

    But Wahda coach Javier Aguirre revealed he made the decision as he didn’t think his lethal marksman was ready having missed a spot kick against Al Hilal in the AFC Champions League earlier this month.

    “Sebastian was the normal penalty taker but I decided (to let Dzsudzsak take it,” said the Mexican.

    “Sebastian missed one penalty in Saudi and I spoke with him and I felt he was not ready to take one again yet.”

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