Al Wasl still in search of elusive victory - Majidi Scored

Gulf News - Al Wasl failed for the sixth match to score their first win in the First Division football league after they were held to a 1-1 draw by Al Ittihad of Kalba in the match held on Thursday night at the Al Wasl stadium.

Al Wasl supporters' anger continued even after the match as they watched their young striker Issa Ali squander two golden chances in the injury time. Had Issa scored from any of the two chances, Al Wasl could have emerged winners and gained full points.

Al Wasl stayed in the 10th place with three points from three draws and Ittihad become eighth with five points.

Al Wasl were reduced to 10 during the injury time after the referee issued marching orders to Al Wasl midfielder Ali Issa, who brought down Nizabwa Tamba, the Ittihad striker, who was on his way to face to scoring with only the Wasl goalkeeper to beat.

Al Ittihad were the better side in the first session. Their attacks, led by the two professionals Cedric and Tamba, were well organised with good support from midfielders Hasan Saeed, Majed Abdullah and Ibrahim Mohammed.

Al Wasl keeper Salah Hussain came rushing out of his goalline to clear the ball before Ibrahim could latch on to it in the 17th minute. A minute later, Ibrahim, Tamba and Hasan Saeed combined to breakthrough the shaky Wasl defence, but the keeper saved the situation.

Ibrahim again seized the ball from Wasl defenders and faced with just the keeper, but shot straight into his hands in the 30th minute.

Al Wasl strikers Farhad Majiedi and Tariq Darwish attacks lacked the sharpness and good finish while Ittihad defenders Jasim Mohammed, Mussa Mohammed and Issa Mattar cleared all the dangerous balls that came their way.

Al Wasl performed better in the second. Issa Ali came in place of Tariq Darwish to add more power to the frontline. Farhad lost a good chance in the 64th minute when he lobbed the ball over the advancing Ittihad keeper.

Mussa quickly headed the ball to clear it away, but the ball hit the cross bar and was cleared by Ittihad defenders.

Al Wasl increased the pressure to score and Majiedi succeeded in breaking the deadlock six minutes from time. Khalid Darwish went past two defenders and passed to Majiedi, who fired a right-footer to the right of Ittihad custodian, Jasim Juma. Two minutes later, Issa Ali had just the Ittihad keeper to beat, but shot wide.

Cedric's swift move at the right created the Ittihad equaliser in the 87th minute. Cedric crossed to Tamba inside the box, and his quick ground shot went to the left of Salah Hussain to stun the Al Wasl supporters.

Salim Miftah and Issa Ali lost three scoring chances for Wasl in the injury time. After the match Issa was the most unhappy person as he cried while leaving the field.