Al Nasr and Al Ahli to clash in President's Cup final

Dubai: The 2015 President’s Cup final will be an all-Dubai affair with Al Nasr setting up a meeting with eight-time champions Al Ahli at the Hazza Bin Zayed Stadium in Al Ain on Wednesday.

In Saturday’s two semi-finals, Al Nasr got the better of a wearied Al Shabab 4-2 on penalties following a 1-1 draw after 120 minutes, while Al Ahli scored once in each half for a 2-0 win against Al Dhafra in Abu Dhabi.

Having lost last week to Al Shabab in the semi-finals of the GCC Champions League, it was a much improved show from Al Nasr as Australian Brett Holman scored for the Blue Wave and Nasser Masaoud got the equaliser for the visiting side.

In Abu Dhabi, Al Ahli took the lead five minutes before half time through former Liverpool star Oussama Assaidi and then added a second through Ahmad Khalil in the 85th minute to carve out a comfortable 2-0 win.

The Red Knights won the President’s Cup for the eighth time in 2013 – a record that they share with Sharjah Club – while Al Nasr will be looking at a fourth triumph in this competition with their last victory coming way back in 1989.

In the Dubai derby, last week’s encounter between the two teams seemed to be the appetiser, with Saturday’s meeting much livelier.

Wearied after their triumph for the third time in the GCC Champions League last Wednesday, Al Shabab showed resolve playing second fiddle to their well-rested rivals.

When they did go behind to the Holman goal in the 47th minute, Al Shabab displayed huge doses of purpose and determination to claw back for a Masaoud equaliser in the 72nd minute to send the match into extra-time in tough and humid conditions.

During the shootout, Al Nasr goalkeeper Shambieh saved off Edgar Bruno da Silva and Hassan Safar to ensure their first final in this competition after 23 years.