The Clarets ended their two-match winless streak thanks to efforts from UAE centre-back Hamdan Al Kamali, 23-goal top scorer Sebastian Tagliabue and mercurial Chile superstar Jorge Valdivia. Their reward was to – temporarily, at least – move up into the third-and-final qualification spot through the Arabian Gulf League and deal a crushing blow to their opponents’ hopes.
“It was not a great match today, but we played well and scored three times,” said boss Javier Aguirre after the 3-0 triumph.
“For the final two matches, we need six points. Without doubt, we will make sure we finish the league in third.
“We will not give up in the league and fight until the last match.”
Wasl were second-best throughout and also lost full-back Hazza Salem to a red card, stretching their damaging streak without victory to five games. With an inferior head-to-head record to last night’s conquerors plus Al Nasr, lifting the President’s Cup seems their only remaining opportunity to make the continent’s premier club tournament.
Another classic to match the rollercoaster 4-3 victory for Wasl in the aforementioned competition’s round of 16 did not seem on the cards when Al Kamali’s bobbled effort somehow beat unhurried goalkeeper Yousef Abdulla at the near post on eight minutes.
Superior desire from Aguirre’s hosts then saw their advantage doubled before the half-hour mark as defensive midfielder Sultan Al Ghaferi won the ball and played in lethal Tagliabue to slot into an open goal at the second attempt.
Wasl are wilting at the worst-possible time.
During rare forays forward in the second half, forward Caio Canedo struck the crossbar from a header in the opening minute and Portugal midfielder Hugo Viana rattled it again from a free-kick at the death. In between, Salem was correctly dismissed for barging over UAE veteran Ismail Matar.
This numerical superiority granted Valdivia crucial space to nonchalantly poke home his eight goal in Maroon late on to cap off a sublime display.
An absence stretching back to 2011 from the ACL could soon be broken by Wahda, with welcoming fixtures against Sharjah and Bani Yas to come.
For disintegrating Wasl, their chances are rapidly decreasing by the week.
