Dubai: Al Shabab coach Caio Junior was left to gloat on the positives after his team’s fighting 2-2 draw against Al Wasl in the ninth week of the Arabian Gulf League (AGL) late on Saturday.
Down by two early goals, and coupled with some bizarre refereeing from Yaqoub Al Hammadi, 10-man Al Shabab did well to snatch a last-gasp 2-2 draw to maintain their third position in the league table.
Al Hammadi exerted his full authority through the 90 minutes while flashing a dozen yellow cards and three red cards, not to mention red cards to both team managers on either side of half-time.
Al Shabab had the better start, while the home side managed to soak in the early pressure. Al Wasl opened the scoring in the seventh minute when Abdullah Kazim quickly reacted to a stray deflection of a shot on goal from Brazilian team-mate Fabio De Lima.
De Lima doubled the lead in the 32nd minute with a fine volley. And though the visitors then lost Mohammad Ali Ayed for a second bookable offence, Al Wasl had their Brazilian striker Caio Canedo Correa also sent off.
The Hawks fought on and were rewarded in the 57th after substitute Eisa Obaid lent the finishing touches on a spilled ball by Al Wasl goalkeeper Yousuf Abdullah. After that goal, the home side was reduced to nine men after skipper Waheed Esmail had handled the ball intentionally.
Al Shabab fought on and were finally rewarded with an equalizer in the final minute of the six extra played as Edgar Bruno da Silva headed in a cross from substitute Abdullah Faraj to earn a well-deserved point.
“At half-time I told the players to be patient and the goals would come. I made two crucial substitutions [Eisa Obaid and Eisa Al Muhairi] and that changed the complexion of the game,” Caio Junior told media.
“I do not comment on the referee. It was abnormal to see 12 yellow cards and three red cards in one match, but the main thing is that I am happy with my team and the way they responded, especially in the second half. In the end I am happy with the 2-2 result. Maybe we could have even won the match,” he added.
Al Wasl coach Gabriel Calderon said it was difficult for have a bearing on a match that was controlled by the referee’s decisions. “Everything was going on well and we had a good game in hand till the referee decided to intervene, or else we could have won 2-0 at least,” the former Argentinean World Cup player said.
“I have been here for one and a half month and I have not received so many yellow cards and red cards in one match. It is so difficult to play in such a situation. I am not happy because the match was decided in the very last minute,” he added.
