Abu Dhabi: Al Wahda prepared for life under new coach Sami Al Jaber in fine style on Thursday night, a Mohammad Al Shehhi brace inspiring them to a 3-1 home win over Bani Yas in the Arabian Gulf League.
The impressive victory maintained the Maroons’ title push as they are third, four points behind leaders Al Jazira, who won 2-0 away at Emirates thanks to a brace from Ali Mabkhout.
It means Saudi Arabia’s Al Jaber, who replaced the sacked Jose Peseiro as coach on Tuesday, can look forward with confidence to taking charge of his side in their next league match away to Sharjah on February 21.
The visitors carved out the first chance of the match in the sixth minute, when Joan Verdu fired a curling, long-range free-kick just wide.
However, it was the hosts who took the lead when Amer Omar slotted calmly past Mohsin Al Hashmi in the visitors’ goal on 22 minutes. It was Omar’s seventh goal of the season.
Omar was instrumental in Al Wahda’s second goal four minutes later, after he latched on to Damian Diaz’s lacerating through ball before striking goalwards. Al Hashmi made the save, but his parry only fell as far as Al Shehhi, who netted from an acute angle.
The visitors began the second half with renewed vigour, an acrobatic save from Adel Alhosani denying Yousuf Al Jaber’s vicious, dipping volley from hitting the net.
Their pressure eventually paid off when Denis Stracqualursi headed home Amer Abdul Rahman’s corner in the 72nd minute.
However, any hopes of Luis Garcia’s side securing a late point were ended three minutes from time when Al Shehhi scored his second of the night with a sumptuous strike.
