Dubai: A resurgent Ittihad Kalba snatched a vital point from Al Shabab with a goalless draw in Group B, while Dubai Club travelled well to fight for a deserving 1-1 result against mighty Al Ain in second round action of the etisalat Pro Cup yesterday.
The draw keeps Al Shabab on top of Group B with four points following their solitary goal win against Al Jazira in the opener last month, while this was Ittihad Kalba's second point following as many draws in this competition.
In Group A, the 1-1 result sees Al Ain on top of the six-team standings with four points, while it was Dubai Club's second point from as many matches. Coached by Brazilian Jorvan Vieira who took over last week, Ittihad Kalba showed a lot of maturity and fluidity in their movements, but found it difficult to get past a stubborn Al Shabab defence.
The home team should have been up by at least a couple of goals within the first 25 minutes, but striker Mohammad Nasser was slow off the blocks on two occasions.
Reacted late
Nasser first missed an easy tap-in after Hassan Ebrahim had nodded in his direction on the 20th minute, and then three minutes later the lanky striker reacted late to a perfect lay from Brazilian teammate Julio Cesar.
Nasser bungled a third time in the 37th minute after kicking straight into an advancing Mohammad Osman on the Ittihad Kalba goal.
After signing for the northern emirate club last week, Vieira is possibly the most decorated coach currently in the UAE football. The 57-year-old has played for top Brazilian clubs including Vasco da Gama, Botafogo and Portuguesa in the 1970s before going on to coach all three clubs after his playing career ended. Since then, he has coached nearly 30 club teams and five national squads.
Vieira is possibly best known for leading war-torn Iraq to their 2007 Asian Cup triumph after stunning pre-tournament favourites including Australia, South Korea and Saudi Arabia for the continental title three years back.
Yesterday evening this experience was on display as Vieira's side toyed and tormented a superior looking opponent, and did everything right except to score. The second half too went the same way with Ittihad Kalba replying on quick counters in an attempt to break the deadlock through their French scoring machine Gregory Dufrennes.
Best chance
Their best chance came two minutes past the hour mark when Dufrennes made a fine run on the left and sent in a perfect lay for Abdul Aziz Abdullah Hassan, who messed up the easiest of chances.
RESULTS
- Group A: Al Ain drew Dubai Club 1-1.
- Group B: Al Shabab drew Ittihad Kalba 0-0.
