Sport | Football
Hasek critical of rivals' tactics
Al Ahli coach Ivan Hasek has criticised the lack of professionalism of players and teams despite his side's 4-2 win against Al Nasr in their opening encounter of the UFL late on Friday.
- By Alaric Gomes, Senior Reporter
- Published: 23:52 September 20, 2008
- Hassan Ali (left) of Al Ahli Club battles for the ball with Mohammad Nasrati of Al Nasr Club during the opening match.
- Image Credit: Hadrian Hernandez/Gulf News
Dubai: Al Ahli coach Ivan Hasek has criticised the lack of professionalism of players and teams despite his side's 4-2 win against Al Nasr in their opening encounter of the UFL late on Friday.
Al Ahli, the Super Cup champions against Al Shabab continued from where they left off from last week with a late resurgence to collect three points. This is the first time in three seasons that Al Ahli has started the league on a winning note.
Last year they lost 1-2 at home to Al Shaab, while the previous year they had gone down tamely 1-3 to lowly Fujairah. "It's always good to keep the winning spirit and the three points we have got are even more important," admitted coach Hasek.
"Our work has just begun. Now the most important match is against Ajman Club (on September 25) and we must start getting ready for that," added the Czech.
Like last week, Hasek was not too pleased with the way in which opposing players react to tackles in an attempt to waste time and break their rhythm in attacks. "I do not like this approach at all. The player goes down and the momentum is broken and we end up with hardly any playing time," Hasek lamented.
Extra-time
"We are professionals and I have instructed all my players that they should not be resorting to any such tactics, simply because this is not football," Hasek added.
Last week, Al Ahli had secured an extra-time penalty to seal a 1-0 win against league champions Al Shabab to lift the Super Cup and Hasek had pointed out similar tactics from the opponents. "In England the game is never stopped unless it is a contact in the air and the player needs medical attention. But here the referee was stopping the game so often and we could not see an attack through," stated the Al Ahli coach.
However, he was happy to take full points from Friday's game. Al Ahli dominated early, while Al Nasr relied on quick counters through long balls to their speedy duo of Mohammad Omar and Mehrdad Madenchi. The visitors went clear on the 28th minute when Faisal Khalil leapt up to connect a measured cross from Cesar.
But that joy was short-lived as Mohammad Omar struck twice in the 32nd and 41st minutes to give the home team the lead going in for the breather.
In the second half, Al Ahli regrouped well and kept on pressurising the Al Nasr defence which finally caved in on the 70th minute as Amar Mubarak brought down Esmail Hammadi and referee Ali Hamad pointed to the spot and also gave the marching orders to the Al Nasr medio for a second yellow. That changed the complexion of the game and Al Nasr coach Luka Bonacic later lamented that "the card destroyed us". Cesar converted from the spot to restore parity at 2-2, and three minutes later Esmail Hammadi drove in from the edge of the box to put Al Ahli clear 3-2.
Al Ahli dominated early, while Al Nasr relied on quick counters through long balls.
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