Dubai: Diego Maradona said he personally couldn’t have done anymore in his first season in charge of Al Wasl, as his players imploded in the GCC Champions League final second leg on Sunday to blow their only chance of silverware for the year, with two needless red cards.
Despite last Tuesday’s 3-1 first leg lead against Al Muharraq in Bahrain, Al Wasl threw their advantage in the second leg at home, with Majid Nasser and Rashid Eisa sent off, allowing the visitors to return the 3-1 deficit, making it 4-4 on aggregate.
The Bahrainis then won 5-4 on penalties in sudden death when keeper Abdullah Kaabi dived left to deny Mubarak Hassan after Diego Da Silva had converted. This came after misses either side from Saleh Abdul Humaid, who blasted Muharraq’s second and Juan Mercier, who over hit Wasl’s fourth.
Al Wasl had gone a goal and a man down on nine minutes when Nasser kicked Ebrahim Ali and head-butted Esmail Abdul Latif as the pair attempted to collect the ball from the net after Jamal Braho headed Hussain Ali’s left cross.
Yassir Salem’s top left curler equalised for Al Wasl on 45 minutes, but Muharraq punished the home team on 51 minutes when Waheed Esmail fell trying to stop Saeed Mahmoud’s through to Abdul Latif. The 4-4 comeback was sealed on 65 minutes after Abdul Humaid’s free kick, teed up by Mahmoud, found the bottom right.
Rashid Eisa compounded issues on 79 minutes, when fouled by Rashid Abdul Rahman, he rose to head butt Saeed Mahmoud, warranting Wasl’s second red for violent conduct. “I couldn’t do any better today,” said a helpless Maradona. “In the end we only lost on penalties. I don’t regret anything I did this season. I did all I could.”
“I want to win of course but circumstances didn’t help. Eleven men against 11 would have been difficult but 11 on nine was a major factor.”
Maradona added: “Majid Nasser’s red card and the first goal were game changers. Substituting Khalifa Abdullah for reserve keeper Rashid Ali was an important factor in changing the way the game continued. Tactically in midfield we had a certain way of playing, but the red card and substitution made it very hard to implement.
“The opposition deserved to win no doubt. They were able to control the midfield, which is something we should have been able to do. If they were more organised and focused they could have won it inside 90 minutes,” said Maradona, who stopped short of openly blaming Nasser and Eisa.
“I will continue because I have a commitment to Al Wasl. We’ve already begun preparation for next season. We’ll take a break and be back ready for the new season. I’d like to congratulate Muharraq, they took advantage of our mistakes and we gifted them the win.”
