Al Wahda play for pride

ABU DHABI — Three-time UAE League champions Al Wahda will play for pride when they take on table toppers Zobahan of Iran in a Group B fixture of the AFC Champions League at the Al Nahyan Stadium on Wednesday night.

Published: Thu 15 Apr 2010, 12:35 AM

Last updated: Mon 6 Apr 2015, 3:53 AM

Al Wahda have lost all their four games thus far and are placed bottom of the pile. They started their campaign with a solitary goal loss against Zobahan away at the Foolad Shahr Stadium. They then went down to Uzbekistan side Bunyodkor 1-2 at home. Their next two games home and away ended in defeats as well. They lost to Saudi Arabian club Al Ittihad 0-2 at home before being blanked 0-4 by Al Ittihad in the away leg at the Prince Abdullah Al Faisal Stadium.

Al Wahda, who have been a regular feature at the Asian level, haven’t lived up to their billing in recent years. Their best showing in the AFC Champions League was a semifinal berth in 2007. Al Wahda had stunned Saudi Arabia’s Al Hilal to reach the semis before going down to Iranian club Sepahan.

With their campaign this year, all but over, Al Wahda’s focus will be to add a fourth League title at home. Al Wahda lead the standings in the domestic league with 46 points followed by Al Jazira on 41 points. Al Ain are third with 35 points.

Al Jazira, who are placed in Group A in the AFC Champions League, play Qatar club second-placed Al Gharafa away.

Al Jazira too are bottom of the pile with three defeats and a draw. The other club from Abu Dhabi Al Ain take on Uzbekistan side second-placed Pakhtakor away.

Meanwhile, Zobahan, who are making their second appearance in the AFC Champions League, have fared better than Al Wahda. Zobahan, who won Iran’s Hazfi Cup last season to qualify for the AFC Champions League, lead Group B with 10 points.

They have won three and draw one. They began with a solitary goal win over Al Wahda before drawing 2-2 with Saudi Arabia’s Al Ittihad. They then blanked Uzbekistan’s Bunyodkor 3-0 at home before defeating them 1-0 away.