Matar delivers when it matters as Al Wahda pass Dibba test

Once more Matar proved his worth by rescuing his team at the Fujairah Stadium on Saturday.

Just 10 minutes left for the final hooter and Al Wahda are 1-1 level against a feisty Dibba. Coach Javier Aguirre doesn't want to return home with just one point from this Arabian Gulf League match and he unleashes his warhorse - Ismail Matar.
 Two minutes into the game and the veteran, prowling outside the Dibba danger area, sees an opportunity and let fly a pass to advancing Khalil Ibrahim on the far right. Dibba's Omar Ahmed and keeper Fahad Al Dhanhani both try to intercept the delivery but the defender deflects it only for Ibrahim to net the winner. And 2-1 it stays.
 Once more Matar proved his worth by rescuing his team at the Fujairah Stadium on Saturday. It was a tough match as Dibba were stubborn and refreshingly different. Despite the loss, new coach Paulo Comelli will take heart from this Round 12 performance.
 It wasn't until 57th minute that Sebastian Tagliabue headed in the first for Al Wahda. It was through a corner taken from Balazs Dzsudzsak.
 In the 74th minute, however, Dibba leveled through Mohammed Ahmed's stunner. Al Wahda defenders were ball watching as Ahmed easily bolted right in the middle of the goal. Ahmed had at least two chances to win the game but it was a day marked for the 'Clarets'.
 Al Wahda thus climbed to fifth place with 20 points from 12 matches. Dibba are 13th with five points. Meanwhile, Al Dhafra beat Hatta 1-0. It was in the 40th minute that midfielder Abdulrahim Jumaa crossed from the right for Syrian forward Omar Khribin to head the only goal of the match at the Hatta Stadium. With this win, the capital club sit sixth with 19 points, just below Al Wanda. - ashwani@khaleejtimes.com