Abu Dhabi: The Al Wahda coach Javier Aguirre was mystified by his side’s failure to beat Al Jazira in Friday evening’s Abu Dhabi derby in round two of the Arabian Gulf League given their overwhelming dominance.
The Clarets were restricted to a 1-1 draw after squandering a host of gilt-edged chances, Suhail Al Mansoori’s 38th-minute opener being cancelled out by Fares Juma’s header in the 72nd minute.
Surprisingly, last season’s leading goalscorer in the AGL, Sebastian Tagliabue, was one of the most profligate players for Wahda.
Aguirre’s side, tipped by some to be an outside bet for the title, have picked up only two points from their opening two AGL games after a dispiriting 0-0 draw away to newly promoted Hatta last week.
“We had a lot of chances to kill the game but for some strange reason we could not score,” Aguirre, whose side drew 2-2 at Jazira in the Arabian Gulf Cup earlier this month, said afterwards.
“I’m pleased with the way we played but not the result. It’s rather strange to see a player like Tagliabue miss so many chances but then this is not unusual in football.
“I am sure he will score for us again soon.”
Henk ten Cate, the Jazira coach, was pleased his men had responded doughtily in the second half after being overrun by Wahda in the first.
“It wasn’t a good game but this result is a positive for me,” added the Dutchman, whose men began the season with a convincing 3-1 home victory over Al Wasl. “We could have even won, had we taken the chances we created [in the second half].”
The tone of the match had been established early on when two prime chances for Tagliabue went begging; one dragged wide by the Argentine striker and another clattered against the underside of the crossbar after an excellent cross from the left by the lively Al Mansoori.
He then uncharacteristically struck two efforts past the post when goals looked inevitable as Wahda bossed the opening 20 minutes.
But seven minutes before half time, Al Mansoori showed a more clinical touch, rifling a low strike between the body of Jazira goalkeeper Ali Khaseif and his near post to give the hosts a deserved 1-0 lead.
Fired up after the interval, Jazira nearly snatched an equaliser in the 62nd minute. Ali Mabkhout evaded the home side’s defence and rounded Wahda goalkeeper Adil Al Hosani, but the UAE striker’s effort from a tight angle flew right across the face of goal and skimmed the far post.
But 10 minutes later, centre-back Juma rose highest at a corner kick to head past Al Hosani and claim a precious point for the indomitable visitors.
