Dubai: A gallant Dibba could do little to stop Al Wahda from progressing to the final of the Arabian Gulf Cup in Fujairah on Thursday.
Going in with a handy 4-2 first-leg advantage from last week, Al Wahda rode on a Sebastian Tagliabue hat-trick before advancing to the final on an 8-5 aggregate following a 4-3 win against 10-man Dibba.
Al Wahda will go up against the winners of the second semi-final between Al Wasl and Shabab Al Ahli Dubai, who were to meet later in the day.
With nothing to lose, Dibba went all out from the start and were instantly rewarded when Brazilian Rodolfo da Silva scored a brace within the opening four minutes. But, the visitors settled in and Sebastian Tagliabue — who had come up with a hat-trick in the opening leg — pulled one back in the 18th minute and Moroccan Mourad Batna drew level on the 33rd minute.
The second half was even more exciting as the home team went clear once again in the 48th minute when skipper Driss Fettouhi fed Sanad Ali. But Dibba were then reduced to ten men after defender Yasser Salem was given a straight red for a charge on Batna.
After being 4-2 in arrears at the end of the first leg held last week, not many would have been expecting such a strong response from Dibba at the Fujairah Stadium. But it was Brazilian striker Rodolfo da Silva bringing things to life when the match was just 15 seconds old. Diogo da Silva moved in menacingly from the right and shot on goal, while an alert Rodolfo jammed the ball into the roof of the net on the follow-through to give Dibba the lead.
Three minutes later, Rodolfo was at it again as he connected an Ahmad Rashid cross with a diving header to make it 2-0 for the home team. Al Wahda took their time to settle in and Tagliabue scored his first on the 18th minute when he prodded home from in front of goal following a throw-in.
The hard-working Batna brought the two teams on level terms in the 33rd minute when he advanced unchallenged on the right to drive home from close after goalkeeper Mohammad Salem had parried away a first-time touch from Tagliabue.
The home side opened up the game totally in the second half, and were again rewarded when skipper Fettouhi went down the right and found Sanad Ali to prod home from close. The match turned again on its head when referee Adel Al Naqbi flashed a straight red to Yasser Salem for bringing down Batna with 30 minutes still remaining.
Dibba did well to hold their opponents at bay, but it was Tagliabue once again whose rasping drive from the top of the box found the goal. Deep into injury period, the 33-year-old Argentine got his hat-trick when Batna squared for an easy tap home and seal the match.
