Cheetahs steam past Al Wahda

Dubai - The Wasl-Wahda match began on a quiet note with neither side taking the extra initiative to go deep into the opposition camp

Al Wasl registered a convincing 2-0 victory over visitors Al Wahda in round three of Group A in the Arabian Gulf Cup at Al Wasl stadium on Friday.
In another match, Emirates trounced Hatta 4-0 at the Emirates Club Stadium.
First half action in the Wasl-Wahda match began on a quiet note with neither side taking the extra initiative to go deep into the opposition camp.
Wahda's Ismael Matar created openings for forwards Suhail Alamsoori and Sebastian Tagliabue but on the three occasions the alert home defence diffused the situations.
Wasl on the other were more circumspect and not as adventurous, at least initially. Caio Canedo and Fabio de Lima were into their usual menacing rhythm though their distribution work was not taken advantage of by Helder Barbosa especially a big opening in the 27th minute. The resultant freekick by Lima went off a defender's boot and the ball was off the mark just inches away from the right post.
In the 30th minute and seconds before the water break, Hazza Salem floated a superb floater from the left which Barbosa headed the ball past Wahda keeper Ali Al Hosani (1-0). Wasl added one more in the 36th minute when a long grounder from Lima, feeble though, bounced awkwardly in front of keeper Hosani before the ball went over his head (2-0).
Wahda retaliated with good moves on the left flank with Balazs Dzsudzsak being able to stretch the Cheetahs' security lines.
Seconds before the half time whistle, Wahda's Hosani made a great diving save to stop a freekick taken by Barbosa.Wahda made a promising start with more organisational work from the back and up front and on one occasion in the 60th minute Wasl skipper Waheed was unfair on Alamssori. The freekick from the infringement went just wide of the right hand post. Al Wasl strung together some delightful moves on the left as Lima, Barbosa and Caio all got into the act with terrific one touch passing. Towering Zahran and the enterprising Ahmed Al Shamisi were outstanding in the Cheetahs defence when they dismantled three ambitious Wahda moves, minutes before the water break in the second half (73rd minute).
moni@khaleejtimes.com