Al Wahda drop first points of the season in Sharjah draw

Jon Turner 21:31 30/09/2014
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  • Table toppers: Al Wahda won their first three games before their draw with Sharjah.

    Al Wahda were inches away from extending their perfect start to the season, although Adil Hermach’s last-gasp strike cannoned off the crossbar to ensure the early leaders were held to a 1-1 draw by Sharjah at Al Nahyan Stadium.

    Wanderley Monteiro’s opener for Sharjah was swiftly cancelled out by Sebastian Tagliabue after a bizarre spell that saw the Argentine take his penalty three times, miss twice and score with the final rebound.

    After a goalless second half, Hermach almost came to Wahda’s rescue and while his powerful long-range effort had Mohamed Yousif beaten in the Sharjah goal, the crossbar proved the ultimate last line of defence for the visitors.

    Al Wahda remain top of the league standings but only on goal difference after Al Shabab moved level on points following a comfortable 2-0 win at newly-promoted Ittihad Kalba.

    For Sharjah, the result continues their improved run of form, the well-deserved point follows a battering of Kalba that was preceded by back-to-back defeats.

    Indeed, it was the visitors that broke the deadlock after a frenetic opening half an hour. A long up-field punt was met by Emirati forward Yousif Saeed who did well to flick the ball onto Wanderley, but the Brazilian still had work to do.

    Surrounded by three Sharjah defenders, Wanderley somehow managed to twist and turn his way into space before unleashing a fine finish into the bottom corner. It was a fine piece of forward play by Wanderley but his effort was certainly helped by some severely poor defending by Sharjah.

    The King’s lead was not to last long though as seven minutes later Al Wahda were awarded a penalty when Salem Saleh was fouled in the area. The penalty decision was straightforward, what followed was certainly not.

    Al Wahda talisman Tagliabue slotted the initial penalty home in style only for referee Mauricio Ramos to order a retake for encroachment in the area. Tagliabue’s second effort was downright awful – the Argentine scuffing his effort wide – but again Ramos called for it to be retaken for the same offence.

    Tagliabue’s third and final effort was saved by Yousif only for the Argentine to pounce on the rebound and fire home for his third goal of the season.

    After the break, Wanderley had the chance to double his tally for the evening but his header from Leandro Lima’s free-kick sailed narrowly wide of the post.

    Tagliabue and Mohamed Al Shehhi were both handed decent chances for Al Wahda but the second half lacked the energy and intensity of the first 45 minutes.

    The brightest action of the second half took place on the touchline when Al Wahda coach Jose Peseiro sent to the stands before Hermach almost snatched it for the hosts in the dying stages.

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