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Al-Wahda and Shabab Al-Ahli Dubai clubs clinch epic victory in heavyweight bout as Ittihad Kalba hosts regrettable Al-Nasr in an unforgettable round 8 of ADNOC Pro League in a modern The classic game is on.
The final moments of Sunday’s final game proved decisive when Al-Wahda’s substitute Joao Pedro led the visitors to a memorable 1-0 victory at the Sharjah Stadium.
Meanwhile, Uzbekistan midfielder Azijon Ganiyev shot from long range on Saturday when Al-Shabaab’s 10 defeated unstable title holder Al Ain 2-1.
The East Coast roller coaster saw Kalba move on three minutes later, trailing 3-1 behind Thorsten Fink’s 12th-placed Nasr until the 71st minute, which ended in a 5-3 victory. Morocco star Achraf Bencharki hit his Al-Jazira opening goal in the eighth attempt to clinch a 2-0 win over Al-Wasl and stop their four-match winless run.
Baniyas beat Al-Dhafra 5-0, UAE veteran Ismail Al-Hammadi pounced in the 95th minute to see Khor Fakkan advance Dibba Al-Fujairah 1-0, Tunisian conspirator Firas Ben Larbi’s penalty sent Aji Mann’s penalty improved to sixth for a 2-1 win over Al-Bataeh.
Here are the hot topics and talking points from the latest Arab News action.
Player of the Week – Daniel Bessa (Etihad Kalba)
Daniel Bessa showed a calm picture amid the chaos at the Etihad Kalba Stadium.
An up-and-down game, and the division’s highest-scoring game since November 2020, was twisted in the hosts’ favour thanks to their summer recruits from a stellar performance from Hellas Verona.
The 29-year-old Brazilian-Italian sparked the comeback with an icy finish, with Kalba second with 19 minutes left in regular time. His probing also ensured he finished with an impressive 95% passing accuracy and two key passes, while two interceptions dented visiting Moroccan midfielder Adel Tarabut after the Magic opened. force.
Bessa’s tactical pedigree on a midfield basis was evident after a decade in Serie A, following a time interval when Kalba’s return to a four-man defence paid dividends. This mitigated some of the damage in the first period defined by the perversely porous defence of Igor Rossi and Abdulsalam Mohammed.
Momentum is now crucial in the ambitious Tigers. Before the 2022 World Cup off-season ends, Baniyas and Ajman face a tough but conquerable game.
Goal of the Week – Joao Pedro (Al-Wahda)
The meeting between two of the most impressive spenders in UAE football is always tense.
A lone goal would separate them once again, just over a week before a stunning free-kick by Spanish raiders Paco Alcacer settled the Presidents Cup final for Sharjah. But this time, it will be a raucous celebration for the visiting Clarets after a fine goal from substitute Pedro.
Boss Manolo Jimenez is surprised the XI has missed out on the formidable striker who has scored five goals in eight top-flight games so far this season. Leave it to evergreen, 37-year-old UAE international striker Sebastian Tagliabue to soften Sharjah.
The inevitable switch between the two came in the 78th minute. What happened before the full-court whistle blew will remain long in the collective memory of Warda.
Portugal’s Euro 2016 winner Adrian Silva is usually at the heart of things.
Picking up the ball on the edge of Sharjah’s box in stoppage time, a vague Brazilian caught his eye. His enviable ability then gave him the practicality to hit the ball high, from which Pedro, who charged, slammed the dunk into goal with a jumping header.
Cue chaos on the road and on the pitch at the Sharjah Stadium.
It’s a constant competition.
Coach of the Week – Leonardo Jardim (Shabab Al-Ahli Dubai Club)
Shabab Al-Ahli by Leonardo Jardim begins to take shape.
There was anticipation when Al-Hilal’s 2021 AFC Champions League winner, and the man who released Kylian Mbappe around the world while in Monaco, was persuaded to sign in June.
In the months since, performances have rarely matched the reputation. However, this was definitely not the case on Friday.
Shabab Al-Ahli refused to be intimidated by UAE warrior Mohammed Marzooq’s own goal in the 10th minute against the champions and decided to relinquish possession instead of getting more chances on the counter-attack. That bold approach was on display just before half-time, when 2017 AFC Player of the Year Omar Corbyn was best suited to catch the ball from a Yuri Cesar save.
An excellent return of six hits on target to a spoke volume.
So is the fact that they are top of the table with Sharjah and Wahda on 16 points – it feels like the Portuguese coach’s force is just getting started after three consecutive victories.
Sharjah is not the sum of its parts
Something is not quite right in Sharjah.
They have the game’s greatest coach, Kosmin Olaroyo, as well as outstanding young players such as Luan Pereira, and have made it through the summer by capturing Alcacer, Miralem Pjanic and Kos Tas Manolas made global headlines. Silverware have already won the Presidents Cup, and they just come out on top in goal difference.
However, they have beaten compatriots Vassl and Wahda 1-0 twice in their last three league games. Only five hits on target were recorded during this period.
Instead, Al-Jazira, the previous 3-3 draw winner in 2020-21, was tainted by heavy defensive errors and inspired by Caio.
Pjanic’s injury didn’t help, while UAE’s Tero Majed Hassan has been sidelined.
Momentum must be gained, not lost, and the top eight are just three points apart. The battle with Al Ain on 12 November is imminent.
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