Al Wahda brushed off concerns over their failure to strengthen over the summer to record an emphatic 5-0 victory over newly-promoted Kalba.
After last season’s sluggish start, the Clarets were able to paint Abu Dhabi red on Tuesday night by brushing aside a team who look set for a season of struggle.
Imposing striker Sebastian Tagliabue was the talisman last term, finishing second only to Al Ain’s Asamoah Gyan in the goalscoring stakes, netting an impressive 26 times, but he was put in the shade by fellow Argentine Damian Diaz, who sparkled at the Al Nahyan Stadium.
Dominant Wahda had to wait until the 40th minute to break the deadlock, but man-of-the-match Diaz’s sweet strike was worth the wait as he volleyedthrough a sea of yellow shirts to find the bottom corner.
Taking the lead gave the hosts a clear boost and they doubled their advantage in first-half stoppage time, the goal decked in sky blue as the two Argentines combined.
Diaz this time the provider, cutely feeding Tagliabue on the edge of the box and the prolific 29-year-old thundered an unstoppable rising drive into the top-right corner.
The home fans turned the second half into a party and their incessant team provided the entertainment.
Mohamed Al Shehhi made the points safe just before the hour mark, latching onto string-puller Diaz’s through ball to round Mohamed Othman and score.
Amer Omar was a menace down the flanks all night and he deservedly netted to make it 4-0 after Othman’s block spilled into his path.
Adil Hermach crowned Wahda’s five-star showing with the pick of the goals in the 88th minute, acrobatically volleying in from the edge of the box.
Clarets coach Jose Peseiro had attracted criticism in some circles for not being overly busy in the transfer market.
But on this showing, the Portuguese has plenty of reason to keep faith with a squad that rose from eighth to clinch a second-place finish after he took over in November 2013.
His side will have much sterner tests this season, but you can’t pick holes in an opening day triumph which bordered on flawless.
