Number 13 was anything but unlucky for Diego Maradona as his Al Wasl side claimed a 1-0 win against Bani Yas in week 13 of the Pro League.
All the talk pre-match centred on the return of former Wasl star Francisco Yeste to the Zabeel Stadium for the first time since his acrimonious departure last summer following Maradona’s arrival at the club.
But the Spaniard was to endure a low-key and ultimately frustrating night as Juan Manuel Olivera’s first half strike proved enough for Wasl to notch up a third successive league victory and move them up to fourth in the table. More satisfying for Maradona though, was his side’s cleansheet – their first shutout since their 3-0 win over Sharjah on the opening day of the season.
“I am happy with the performance as we had excellent ball possession,” said Maradona. “We were the better team. Bani Yas depended too much on the long ball.”
Regarding suggestions by some Wasl unfairly influence referees, El Diego shot back. “We do not influence the referees. In fact its the other way around. Five minutes injury time against Al Nasr we ended with a draw and lost points. In today’s game as well there was five minutes which the players were not happy about.”
Olivera would prove to be the matchwinner for the Cheetahs but much of the plaudits will surely go to Wasl’s chief creative architect Mariano Dondo as the Argentine’s delicious volleyed pass on the left hand side was worth the admittance fee alone.
Taking a bouncing ball first time Donda drilled a wonderful pass into Mohammed Reza Khalatbari, who himself produced a lovely first time touch into the path of Wasl’s hulking targetman. From there Olivera rolled his marker, all to easily in truth, before smashing home a left foot shot which looped over visiting ‘keeper Mohamed Khalef and into the far corner with the aid of a slight deflection.
Yeste meanwhile was given a couple of ‘sighters’ from free-kicks, where he can be so deadly. But a 30-yard effort in the first half flew harmlessly over while it was a similar story late in the game when he just failed to hit the target from another deadball, this time on the edge of the box.
Wasl were presented with a number of opportunities to put the tie to bed late on as Bani Yas searched for that elusive equaliser but they failed to make the most of their chances. Khalifa Abdulla was the chief culprit as he fired wide when being well placed.
Fortunately for him it did not matter as Wasl saw out the closing stages with minimal fuss to seal a deserved three points which owed much to the brilliance of Donda as it did a wicked deflection. Onwards and upwards for Wasl though. Yeste will have to wait another day to settle his score.
