Dubai // Al Ahli sent out a warning to their rivals with a 8-1 demolition ofFujairah at the Rashid Stadium on the opening night of the Arabian Gulf League.
Ismail Al Hammadi, who had said Ahli could make a clea sweep of the domestic titles this season at the club’s kit launch on Sunday, struck a hat-trick on the night, while newcomer Rodrigo Lima and Everton Ribeiro scored two each.
Ahmed Khalil also got on the scoresheet for the hosts, while Hassan Maatouk managed to score a consolation goal for Fujairah in added time.
The win should be a massive boost for Ahli ahead of their visit to Iran for the first leg of their Asian Champions League quarter-final against Naft Tehran on August 26.
Fujairah, of course, were nowhere close to the quality that the 2013/14 AGL champions will face at the cavernous Azadi Stadium next Wednesday, but the way they controlled the game was truly impressive.
Man of the match
Brazilian striker Rodrigo Lima was probably not at the top of Ahli’s shopping list in the summer, with the likes of Mario Balotelli, Luiz Adriano and Bafetimbi Gomis featuring higher up. But, like coach Cosmin Olaroiu said earlier in the month, Lima is proving to be a better signing than those superstars. Last night, he scored twice and had a role in two of the goals scored by Ismail Al Hammadi.
What the managers said
“It is good start for us, but the most important thing is to understand this result is worth just three points and we have not achieved anything,” Al Ahli coach Cosmin Olaroiu said. “We should not start pretending we are better than we actually are.”
“I am really disappointed with what happened,” Fujairah coach Ivan Hasek said. “The team just collapsed after the second goal and did not play the way we should have played. This is the first time we have conceded so many goals and I apologise to the fans and to everyone who is supporting the team for this performance.”
The National’s verdict
Having played the likes of Inter Milan, and shared the honours with them, during their pre-season camp in Italy, Ahli looked confident from the start. They controlled the game despite the stifling humidity, wasted few opportunities in front of the goal and made the most of Fujairah’s clumsy defending.
It was a convincing performance, but perhaps the hosts would have preferred a stiffer workout ahead of their Champions League quarter-final against Naft Tehran next week. Olaroiu, however, should have few complaints from this performance. Ahli looked like a well-drilled unit, and if they can keep their play up at this level, UAE football fans could be a celebrating a win next Wednesday.
AGL team guides: Al Jazira — Abel Braga’s return sparks title hope
Ahead of the start to the 2015/16 Arabian Gulf League season, The National will preview the fortunes for each of the UAE’s 14 top-flight clubs. Here, Amith Passela looks at last season’s runners-up, Al Jazira.
Overlook
Abel Braga’s return after four seasons coaching in his native Brazil has reignited Al Jazira’s prospects of winning the Arabian Gulf League title for the second time. He led the capital club to both the league and President’s Cup titles in 2011 before deciding to leave at the end of his three-year contract.
Since his departure, Jazira have given seven coaches the chance to win a title. They finished fourth in 2012, and were twice third and runners-up in the ensuing years.
Despite leading the league with 66 goals last season, Jazira have shipped out three of their four foreign players who all played attacking roles, seemingly under the directives of Braga.
They retained the Montenegro international Mirko Vucinic, the league’s top scorer (25 goals) and winner of the AGL Foreign Player award.
Thiago Neves, the Brazilian midfielder, Jefferson Farfan, the former Schalke winger, and the Korean central midfielder Park Jong-woo are the new signings.
Jazira have signed local players to strengthen a defence that leaked 46 goals, a total exceeded only by the relegated Kalba (63) and Ajman (60).
Having been active in the transfer market and under their title-winning coach, Jazira are sure to make a big impression in the league.
Foreign quartet
Mirko Vucinic: The former Juventus striker made an immediate impact in his debut season, winning both the Golden Boot and the Arabian Gulf League’s Foreign Player award.
Thiago Neves: The Brazilian arrives with an excellent record for Al Hilal in the Saudi Pro League. He won the Saudi league, Crown Prince’s Cup, King’s Cup, and a runners-up medal in the Asian Champions League during his two spells at the Riyadh club from 2009-2011 and 2013-2015.
Jefferson Farfan: The Peruvian international, who arrived from Germany’s Schalke, counts 63 caps for his country and is an excellent addition to the squad, known for his nimble and creative play that can help Vucinic, Neves and Emirati international Ali Mabkhout in the attack.
Park Jong-woo: The South Korean makes his debut in the region after a one-year spell at the Chinese Super League club Guangzhou R&F. The central midfielderhas 13 international caps.
Key Emirati players
Ali Mabkhout has been a stand-out player up front, topping the scoring charts for an Emirati player. Khamis Ismail has a pivotal role as a defensive midfielder along with veteran centre-back Basheer Saeed, Abdullah Moosa and the new signing Fares Juma to add stability at the back.
Manager
Braga’s previous experience in the AGL will be a huge asset and he has shown that he has what it takes to craft a title winning squad
The National’s verdict
Jazira have been consistent, although not successful, in the league since their first championship season, in 2011. With Braga back, they have all the tools in place to win a second championship.
Javier Aguirre says Al Wahda signing Jorge Valdivia will miss their opening AGL match
ABU DHABI // Javier Aguirre, the Al Wahda coach, says he is in no hurry to get the club’s marquee signing Jorge Valdivia into action straight away on his arrival at the Al Nahyan stadium on Friday.
The Chile international’s late arrival after being released from the Brazilian club Palmeiras on Monday means he will miss the club’s Arabian Gulf League opener against promoted Dibba.
“I have already spoken to him over the phone and discussed a few things so he knows what to we expect when he arrives,” Aguirre said.
“He’s an important player and I want him to be 100 per cent before he starts playing. Hence I don’t want to rush him to play as we have enough good players to start the season.
“Valdivia was released by his club on Monday and he told me he had a few things to attend before flying out of Brazil. That’s a valid point but I wish he comes with good legs.”
Valdivia will link up with the capital club’s new Brazilian signing and former Arsenal midfielder Denilson and Sebastian Tagliabue, the Argentine forward who was retained from last season along with the Kuwaiti centre-back Hussain Fadhel.
Ismail Matar, the Wahda captain, said Valdivia’s arrival will have a big impact on the team during the season.
“I was looking forward to play with him, but yes that’s how it’s panned out to be for the moment,” he said.
“But when we eventually do, we want to help each other and strike a good partnership that can help the team to achieve good results.
“The coach has a lot of confidence on me and the rest of the team. We all know of Valdivia’s abilities, and he certainly has a huge role to play if we have to be successful.”
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