Al Ahli emerged as the victors from an eventful first running of the Arabian Gulf Super Cup on foreign soil, Rodrigo Lima’s second-half penalty proving the difference against Al Jazira as both sides finished with 10 men on the pitch.
Lima, 33, struck the winner on 69 minutes in Cairo’s 30 June Stadium after emerging midfielder Waleed Hussain was felled by centre-back Fares Juma’s rash challenge.
The match was already 10 v 10 at that stage, with Pride of Abu Dhabi full-back Salim Rashid and UAE international Habib Fardan both seeing red in either half.
New signing Mohammed Fawzi had struck an own goal just before the break to put the Red Knights ahead, with Brazil playmaker Thi-ago Neves’ rasping injury-time effort proving nothing but a consolation as the Red Knights lifted the trophy for a fourth time.
The 16th running of the showpiece event between the Arabian Gulf League champions (Ahli) and President’s Cup holders (Jazira) had been moved to Egypt in a bid to increase the exposure of UAE football.
A healthy crowd was present in the Egyptian metropolis last night to witness this groundbreaking contest, which sprung to life around the half-hour mark.
2015 AFC Asian Player of the Year Ahmed Khalil went down after being tripped by 22-year-old prospect Rashid outside the box, with the referee producing a red card in response.
The UAE forward then soon sparked the breakthrough, strike partner Lima’s goal-bound shot forcing ex-Al Ain defender Fawzi to erroneously slide the ball into his net after an incisive throughball.
Numerical parity was then restored on 61 minutes, Fardan being uncharacteristically given his marching orders after a high boot on Mohamed Jamal. But this didn’t stop Lima from doubling up from 12 yards less than 10 minutes later.
Neves then managed to smash in on the angle, although this strike came far too late for his club.
