Abdullah Al Naqbi is hero for Al Wasl as they beat Shabab Al Ahli in AGL finale to secure third

Sport360 staff 23:47 29/04/2018
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  • Al Wasl made hard work of it but beat Shabab Al Ahli Dubai Club (Twitter/@alahlicclub)

    Abdullah Al Naqbi was the Al Wasl hero for the second time in a matter of days as his composed second-half strike booked the club’s spot in the 2019 AFC Champions League through the top flight with a 1-0 win against 10-man Shabab Al Ahli Dubai Club.

    The Cheetahs – who also play in Thursday’s President’s Cup final against Arabian Gulf League winners Al Ain – headed into Sunday’s final-day contest in possession of third place and knew they must equal or better the result of Bur Dubai rivals Al Nasr to hold onto it.

    In a style to befit their struggles in a trying second half of the campaign, Rodolfo Arruabarrena’s charges made hard work of it.

    Their task looked to have been made easier before the half-hour mark when ex-Wasl youth product Habib Fardan performed a reckless tackle from behind on Australian centre midfielder Anthony Caceres and was dismissed. But it would take until the 69th minute for the breakthrough to come.

    Al Naqbi, who scored the winning penalty as Wasl beat Al Wahda 5-4 in their President’s Cup semi-final on Wednesday, dispossessed fellow midfielder Waleed Hussein within his own half, advanced on goal and then applied an astute finish past sometime UAE No1 Majed Nasser. With Nasr drawing 2-2 at relegation-threatened Emirates Club, 2016/17’s runners-up came out with third place from the latest edition.

    Meanwhile, prolific centre forward Sebastian Tagliabue continued his personal torment of capital rivals Al Jazira when his hat-trick helped earn an emphatic 4-1 triumph versus 10 men for second-placed Al Wahda.

    Tagliabue, 33, leads the way in the UAE with most goals scored against one opponent (19) and most trios (four) after his latest haul versus the Pride of Abu Dhabi.

    The Argentine headed in after just two minutes, only for the deposed champions to level before the end of the first half through Morocco international Mbark Boussoufa’s low finish.

    But Tagliabue tapped in a rebound straight after the restart, with midfielder Salem Ali soon being dismissed.

    The No11’s hat-trick was completed from close range on 76 minutes and youngster Mohammed Belal rounded off the scoring from 20 yards.

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