A season to savour is starting to unfold for Al Wasl.
Chaos and embarrassment had derailed this once-dominant club in recent years, a revolving door of coaches and flirtations with relegation becoming an unpalatable reality. But in Gabriel Calderon and his excellent foreign quartet, they have struck gold.
A key 2-1 victory against Bani Yas in the Arabian Gulf League was secured on Friday night, justifiably edging a close contest between sides evenly matched in ambition and talent. Brazilian forward Caio Canedo was a class apart, his expertly-dispatched first-half double helping to usurp the vanquished into fourth spot.
– AGL: Jimenez believes Nasr can challenge for title
– FEATURE: Udinese’s time to shine after investment
– SHARE, RATE, WIN: With Sport360 ValoraFutbol
– Follow: Live football scores from around the world
Both sides hold pretensions of crashing the Asian qualification spots, with Al Wahda unconvincing and Al Jazira in pieces. On this evidence, Wasl seem the more realistic contenders.
The wind has been taken out of the Sky Blues’ sails in recent months by a disappointing top-flight run which has now stretched to one win from seven. Centre-forward Joaquin Larrivey had a typically-eventful game, scoring once, seeing a goal harshly ruled out and rattling the crossbar twice.
Fortune failed to favour him and left coach Luis Garcia scrambling for a cure for their ails – and fast.
The hosts refused to be distracted by the early removal of goalkeeper Yousef Abdulla due to concussion, their foreigners’ chemistry producing the opener.
Portugal midfielder Hugo Viana’s delicately lofted corner arrowed towards Canedo, an excellent fifth assist of the season coming as the 25-year-old bamboozled a pair of markers to nod home.
Wasl have recovered superbly from a tricky September, winning three of their preceding four games to close on the continental qualification spots. This is testament to Calderon’s guidance, the ex-Bani Yas boss lifting a club in chaos when he was hired in October 2014.
They had referee Ahmed Salim Khalfan to thank for helping maintain this fine run of form on 38 minutes, Argentine Larrivey being inexplicably denied an eighth top-flight strike for a non-existent push on Jassem.
Buoyed by this lifeline, an otherwise excellent first-half for Wasl and Caio was rounded off in fitting fashion prior to the break.
The ex-Internacional and Botafogo player was alert to Mohamed Khalaf standing slightly off his line, an exquisite first-time curled finish from 25 yards arching beautifully into the net following sharp work from compatriots Fabio De Lima and Edgar Bruno.
The woodwork was struck twice by both combatants after the break. A 53rd-minute free-kick from Viana was pushed onto it by Khalaf, a pair of Larrivey headers then bouncing off it at the other end.
The summer signing from Celta Vigo could not ultimately be denied, following in his saved header from close range after a corner was flicked on by midfielder Fawaz Awana on 78 minutes.
A late cavalry charge from the visitors did not emerge, De Lima a lick of paint away from making it 3-1 with a header which struck the post.
The club which won four league crowns in the 1980s has finished no higher than fifth since football turned professional in the UAE in 2008-09. After this validating result, the Wasl faithful can dream of this barren run finally ending in May.
