Dubai: Al Wasl coach Rodolfo Arruabarrena said his side must learn from their mistakes if they’re to win the title this season, after surrendering a two-goal lead to draw 2-2 at home to Ajman on Thursday.
The Cheetahs could have gone four points clear at the top of the Arabian Gulf League after second-placed Al Ain also drew 0-0 away to Dibba. But instead, Arruabarrena’s side remains just two points clear after allowing third-from-bottom Ajman to claw back.
Fabio Lima and Caio Correa had the hosts 2-0 up at half-time before Modibo Maiga’s late brace shared the spoils.
- Rodolfo Arruabarrena | Al Wasl coach
“Each team owned a half,” said Arruabarrena. “In the first half we scored two, but then in the second we lost control and committed mistakes, which allowed them to equalise. I hope we learn from these mistakes and don’t commit them in the future.
“Considering we didn’t have control maybe a draw is a good result or the result that had to be.”
Asked if the draw was more frustrating given that Al Ain had also drawn, and an opportunity to pull clear was missed, he replied: “There’s only frustration because we didn’t win despite being 2-0 up.
“It doesn’t speak well of us if we look at results of those around us. We should only worry about what we do and try to improve match by match.”
With this draw Al Wasl continued their unbeaten run of 24 games, close to equalling Al Jazira’s memorable run of 25 domestic games unbeaten — 30 if you include Asian Champions League matches — set between March 2009 and January 2010.
“That’s just a statistic though,” said the Argentine coach. “We need to win to reach the title but this is a game and we know if we make mistakes and are not at the right level that’s going to be difficult.
“Up to 24 games without loss means we are doing something good, we are level with the top teams, but the one who will win the championship will be the one who makes less mistakes and is most consistent.”
Ajman coach Ayman Al Ramadi said: “This was a very important point for us and I think we were even deserving of a win with the amount of chances we had in the second half.
“At half-time I told them to have courage and they showed great reaction to come back.
“Going forward, the players now know they are capable and should have courage without ego, because we are still taking our first steps to stay in this league.”
