Emirates beat Al Wahda to reach finals

Abu Dhabi : Emirates club continued their dream campaign in the President's Cup and reached their first final after beating favourites Al Wahda with a single goal scored by Nabeel Al Doudi in the last minute of regular time from the spot.

Reaching the final, for the first time in the club's history, is the best and ideal start of the club's new coach, Eid Baroot, who took over only four days ago following the club's poor results in the UAE Football League (UFL) where they are placed second from bottom with only six points from 11 matches.

"We are overjoyed. It is beyond my wildest dreams." Baroot told Gulf News after the match. "Our players fought like tigers to beat a first class team like Al Wahda. The secret was playing according to our capabilities."

Emirates was defending the match and organised some shy counterattacks while Al Wahda did the possession and attacking.

Missed chances

However, lack of concentration and brilliant goalkeeping on part of Hassan Al Sharif — the Emirates custodian — denied Fernando Baiano, Esmail Mattar and company all the chances that came their way.

Substitute striker Ahmad Ali of Al Wahda, returned to defend following a fast counter-attack led by Emirates captain, Karim Kerkar and Ali fouled the French midfielder inside the box in the last minute of the match only for referee Hamad Al Shaikh to award Emirates a penalty which Al Doudi converted in style for the all important winner.

Emirates will meet the winner between Al Jazira and Al Shabab who will face each other today in the second final.

Al Jazira have reached the final match only once, in the season of 2001-02, and lost to Al Ahli 3-1 when the team was led by their captain George Weah, the legendary Liberian footballer.

Since that date, Al Jazira failed to repeat their feat but look set to going even further this season with their top of the form team which lead the UFL and have already reached the semi finals of Etisalat Cup.