(MENAFN- Khaleej Times) The Chilean marksman scored the second as Al Ahli won the Group B fixture 3-1.Al Wahda’s Khalid Jalal and Nawaf Mubarak (71) of Al Ahli vie for the ball. — KT photo by Nezar Balout
Abu Dhabi — Carlos Munoz scored on his Al Ahli debut as the Red Knights began their Arabian Gulf Cup title defence with a dominant victory over Al Wahda at the Al Nahyan Stadium on Thursday night. The Chilean marksman who made four League appearances for Bani Yas this season before being sold to Al Ahli on transfer deadline day scored the second as Al Ahli won the Group B fixture 3-1.
Luis Antonio Jimenez had put the champions ahead on 35 minutes before Munoz doubled the lead on 70 minutes. And though Al Wahda pulled one back through Mohammed Al Shehhi a minute later Al Ahli captain Grafite added a cushion with the third on 73 minutes.
With the international break Al Ahli were without Abdul Aziz Haikal Abdul Aziz Sanqour Ismail Al Hammadi Ahmed Khalil and Habib Fardan. Walid Abbas was injured. Al Wahda were only missing defender Hamdan Al Kamali and Hussain Fadhel the Kuwaiti international. Even then coach Jose Peseiro opted to play only one foreign player in Sebastian Tagliabue including five first choice players.
And it was not a great day for Abu Dhabi clubs with Al Ain and Al Jazira too losing their games earlier in the evening. Al Ahli who had all their foreign players for this fixture were on the front foot in the first half and held more of the possession. And the broke the deadlock on 35 minutes through Luis Antonio Jimenez whose effort from a tight angle slipped into the net.
Al Wahda had an opportunity to cancel that out after the break after Al Ahli stopper Majed Naser had brought down Sebastian Tagliabue on the edge of the box. But Eisa Abdulla couldn’t make the resultant freekick count. Later on 56 minutes Tagliabue’s pile driver was cleared by the Al Ahli defence.
Al Ahli hit back with the second on 70 minutes with Carlos Munoz chesting down a long cross before volleying it past Ali Mohammed Al Hosani. Al Wahda nudged back into the game a minute later through Mohammed Al Shehhi who drilled it home after a back-heel from Tagliabue. But any hopes of a comeback were put to bed with Al Ahli captain Grafite scoring the third heading it in off a Mohammed Sabeel Obeid cross.
jameskhaleejtimes.com
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