Tribune News Network
Doha
UAE’s Al Wahda edged Al Wakrah 5-4 on penalties after a 1-1 draw in full time to claim Challenge Cup of Qatar-UAE Super Cup at the Al Nahyan Stadium in Abu Dhabi on Sunday.
Al Wakrah aiming to secure the title for the first time seemed on course earlier having taken early lead in the match but hosts Al Wahda hit back to first equalize and later get the better of Al Wakrah in the shootout to lay their hands on the Challenge Cup.
Lucas Pimenta, Ahmad Nourollahi, Omar Khrbin, Bernardo Folha and Leonel Wamba scored for Al Wahda in the shootout while Khozhimat Erkinov missed the target; for Al Wakrah - Ricardo Gomes, Alexander Scholz, Farid Boulaya, and Hamdi Fathi scored but Aissa Laidouni hit the crossbar and Al Mahdi Ali missed the crucial last kick.
Earlier, Assa Laidouni had scored for Al Wakrah in the 26th minute while Omar Khrbin fetched Al Wahda the equalizer in the 62nd minute.
Watched by a large crowd, the clash had many exciting moments as both teams kept pushing to gain advantage.
In the 14th minute, Farid Boulaya’s strike from the left was blocked by Al Wahda goalkeeper Mohamed Hasan Al Shamsi. Minutes later, a Fathi kick sailed over and landed on the net.
Al Wakrah soon found success as Laidouni scored after the ball fell to him while being far left, neatly putting the it across into the net following an Abdelkarim Hassan corner kick from the right.
The Blue Wave looked to gain from the momentum immediately but following an offensive a Fathi long ranger just missed the left post.
Al Wahda looked to retaliate but in the 38th minute, a Khrbin threatening strike was kept away by a flying Al Wakrah goalkeeper Saoud Mubarak.
Two minutes later, Mubarak again made a leaping save with his fingertips as he pushed over a Khrbin free-kick strike.
Midway through the second half, Al Wahda succeeded as Khrbin latched on to the ball after a defensive header slotting it into the net.
Moments later, Al Wahda tried to hit back again but Mubarak and Hassan combined to keep the attack at bay.
In the 90th minute, an Al Mahdi Ali’s kick was saved by Al Wahda goalkeeper Al Shamsi who flew to his right.
With the teams locked 1-1, it was time for the penalty kicks and in the end the home team and their fans had more to rejoice.