Abu Dhabi: Veteran goalkeeper Moataz Abdullah brought off a brilliant save in the sudden-death to Al Wahda shock Pro-League and President’s Cup winners Al Jazira 9-8 after full time had ended 2-2.
Abdullah so desperately yearned for a Super Cup medal after losing last year’s final to Emirates and that was the only missing medal in the previous 16 trophies that he has won with clubs and country.
Al Wahda fully deserved the win though they missed a penalty during full time and lost a 1-0 lead to trail 2-1 before they leveled scores and clinched the etisalat Super Cup in the sudden death.
Henrique Hugo missed an early penalty when rival goalkeeper Khaled Eisa guessed right and dived to his left to save a goal. But Al Jazira skipper Saleh Obaid shoved Mohammad Al Shehhi inside the box and Hugo made no mistake second time around.
Al Jazira, who were outplayed for most of the first half, equalized four minutes before the break when Oliviera broke the offside trapped and crossed for Ibrahim Diaky to beat Moataz with a sliding effort.
Ahmad Juma, a former Al Wahda player once again struck against his former club and this time seconds after he came on as a substitute in the 53rd minute. His right-footer hit the upright and bounced inside the goal before coming back into play and the linesman right spotted the goal.
Al Wahda pressed on and after Mahmoud Khamis struck the crossbar off a free-kick, All Jazira conceded their third penalty. This time lanky defender Juma Abdulla was the culprit when he brought down substitute Amer Omar and Hugo once again slammed home the penalty to make it 2-2.
Khalid Jalal, Mahmoud Khamis, Magrao, Ahmad Eisa and Esmail Matar for Al Wahda and Bare, Abdul Salam Juma, Lucas Neill, Ahmad Dada and Diaky all converted the first five shots for the respective teams.
In the sudden death Amer Omar for Wahda and Subait Khater for Jazira scored but in the next set Hugo, taking his fourth penalty of the match, hit the crossbar. However skipper Saleh Obaid missed the chance to win the Cup for his side and hit out.
In the next set of kicks Al Wahda skipper Omar Ali made no mistake and Moataz Abdulla then parried away Ahmad Juma’s shot to send the Al Wahda fans into wild celebrations at the Baniyas Club stadium.
