Denilson seals first Arabian Gulf Cup triumph for Al Wahda

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  • Al Wahda lifted the Arabian Gulf Cup for the first time.

    A goal 16 seconds into Friday night’s Arabian Gulf Cup-final proved enough for 10-man Al Wahda to lift the trophy for the first time, at toothless Al Shabab’s expense.

    A contrast in emotions bookended a defining first half for Javier Aguirre’s champions.

    They went ahead from kick-off through on-rushing Denilson’s second goal in 26 appearances, before erroneous-officiating saw Chile superstar Jorge Valdivia dismissed just before the break for a supposed kick only the additional referee and protesting opposition players witnessed.

    Under persistent rain at Al Nasr’s Al Maktoum Stadium, a redoubtable edge of defiance then helped them easily bat away a piecemeal challenge from the Hawks and claim the season’s opening piece of major silverware.

    A sense of desolation crept over the vanquished, for whom a last chance to salvage a miserable 2015/16 has gone. Last term’s third-placed Arabian Gulf League-finish and GCC Club Cup-success seems an age away for Caio Junior’s struggling side.

    They singularly failed to make the most of Al Ahli’s long-disputed disqualification from the decider to their benefit by the UAE Football Association, with a damp display to match the weather.

    Moments after funnels of smoke and ticker tape greeted the entrance of the players, the Dubai-outfit went behind.

    A devilishly-weighted ball from South American magician Valdivia rolled past hapless centre-back Mohammed Marzooq. Former Arsenal midfielder Denilson gratefully latched onto it inside the box, calmly slotting home via goalkeeper Salem Abdulla’s outstretched torso to notch a cup-winning goal during his first season in maroon.

    Unimpressive January signing Juninho Potiguar’s scuffed effort in response was the sole highlight before Valdivia and the officials came to the fore.

    Both he and countryman Carlos Villanueva dived in on a loose ball, the momentum throwing Valdivia up into the air. His landing was awkward, but not malicious.

    Yet wild protestations from the Hawks, desperately searching for parity, led referee Salem Al Naqbi to confer with his assistant behind the goal. An adjudged kick to the head led to a bewildering dismissal.

    ‘El Mago’s’ reputation as a volatile figure is well established. A ban for an obscene gesture was incurred on debut for Wahda, this game was his return after a sending off against Al Ahli for a forearm to Khamis Esmail’s head and he is currently serving an international suspension.

    But his second red card in consecutive club games could not be justified, even on repeated viewing. Such calls could chase a phenomenally-talented player out of the country.

    A difficult second half for Wahda seemed inevitable on 51 minutes as Moldova forward Henrique Luvannor’s header forced a superb save from the Adel Al Hosani.

    Yet, Shabab were unable to lay siege to their depleted opponents’ goal. The Clarets carried much-greater threat on the counter-attack through striker Sebastian Tagliabue.

    A pitch invasion from the overjoyed Wahda bench and booming chants of “Valdivia” greeted the final whistle. There could be no disputing the better side had won.

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