Al Wahda settle for draw

Al Wahda were held to a 2-2 draw by Dibba Al Fujairah during Round 25 of the Arabian Gulf League at the Al Nahyan Stadium on Wednesday.

The final 25 minutes saw lot of clashes, bodies on the ground and few ugly spats making it an intriguing finish.

The visitors desperately wanted three points to help their relegation battle. Dibba, led by Brazilian duo of striker Bruno Moraes and midfielder Wanderley de Sousa, attacked right from the word go.

However, it was Al Wahda who went ahead in the eighth minute. And it was an own goal by Dibba defender Saeed Al Nuqbi. Al Wahda midfielder Tareq Ahmed crossed into the box from the left flank but a diving Saeed Al Nuqbi, instead of clearing the ball, shot into his own net.

Al Wahda had a spring in their steps and another one came in 19th minute. Tagliabue converted through a delivery from Jorge Valdivia. It was a scrappy set of passes that found way through the defenders for the Chilean midfielder to slide past Fahad Al Dhanhani.

The match was played at good tempo and both teams enjoyed their share of attacking moves. And in the 35th minute, Dibba scored through Sousa. It was a clean strike from the Brazilian that keeper Rashed Ali couldn't do much about.

Following a spirited start after the break, Al Wahda midfielder Balazs Dzsudzsak found the goal post and Dibba's Driss Fettouhi tested keeper Ali with a long range effort.

Ten minutes after the break, Dibba drew level through Moraes. The goal came through a corner from Ali Al Dhanhani and keeper couldn't clear cleanly and Moraes netted through a bicycle kick.

In reply, Al Wahda, led by Dzsudzsak, attacked relentlessly. Dibba keeper Fahd had to be at his athletic best to keep out a long range effort and a low volley from Dzsudzsak. With just under 30 minutes left, veteran Ismail Matar replaced defender Mohammed Abdulbasit. There were lots of free-kicks following bad challenges but the score remained unchanged at 2-2.

In another match, Bani Yas were punished for laxity as Emirates scored twice in the last five minutes to end the match 4-4 at the Baniyas Stadium.

Emirates opened the scoring through Osman Sow. Bani Yas midfielder Novillo Christopher cancelled the advantage through a thunderous long range shot and Bani Yas were 2-1 up through a Jean-Philippe Mendy goal in 38th minute. But Emirates drew level through Mourad Batna.

After the break, Bani Yas were helped through an own-goal from striker Sebastian Saez. Christopher scored in the 80th minute to almost ensure a second home win but Emirates pulled a late draw with strikes from Ahmed Malallah and Saez.