Abu Dhabi: The merged Club Shabab Al Ahli Dubai responded in their season opening encounter against Al Wahda in the Arabian Gulf Cup with caution but ended up salvaging a 1-1 draw at the Al Nahyan Stadium on Friday.
Argentine Sebastian Tagliabue put Al Wahda in the lead early while Shabab Al Ahli Dubai leveled terms through their Senegal striker Makhete Diop, just before the breather.
Shabab Al Ahli Dubai coach Cosmin Olaroiu in the run-up to the match had said that his side was still in ‘transition’ following the unification of three former clubs — Al Shabab, Al Ahli and Dubai Club — following a decree by His Highness Shaikh Mohammad Bin Rashid Al Maktoum, Vice-President and Prime Minister of the UAE and Ruler of Dubai in May this year. And that clearly showed more so in the first 30 minutes of play.
There were no concrete moves, just aimless efforts trying to get the acts together and Wahda clearly had the upper hand.
Just 10 minutes into play, Al Wahda’s veteran star Ismaeil Matar triggered a move and found striker Tagliabue with a neat placement.
The latter then dribbled past a couple of defenders to find enough space to shoot.
Though the first attempt was blocked by Shabab Al Ahli Dubai goalkeeper Majed Naser Humaid, the Argentine made sure to score from the rebound.
The first purposeful move from Shabab Al Ahli Dubai came at the half an hour mark. Diop unleashed a powerpacked shot after a melee inside the box but only to see it sail over following a deflection from a defender.
In the 40th minute, Tagliabue again found space to send in a powerful volley but goalkeeper Humai was equally up for that challenge.
Then when it felt that the host would go into the breather with a goal advantage, Shabab Al Ahli Dubai got the equaliser.
Wahda defender Mohamed Al Menhali was the last man chasing a lob from the deep but he failed to read the flight of the ball well.
Diop who was also giving chase won the battle and then beat the lone Wahda goalkeeper Mohammed Al Shamsi with a neat placement.
The second session was mainly confined to mid-field dual. It only picked up pace towards the final stages with Al Wahda pressing hard to find the winner.
Shabab Al Ahli Dubai’s defense, however, remind rock solid to make sure they walked away with a hard fought draw.
