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Al Nasr beat Al Ahli on penalties to end 26-year wait for President's Cup title

As thousands of joyous Al Nasr fans surged onto the Hazza bin Zayed Stadium pitch, they celebrated President’s Cup-final success both long awaited and barely believable.

Their heroes had been second best throughout against Al Ahli and recipients of an 89th-minute own goal totally against the run of play to set the path for penalties. But it was there in which they showed the champion character instilled since coach Ivan Jovanovic’s 2013 arrival.

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A 26-year wait to taste success in the UAE’s most prestigious competition ended as the Red Knights crumpled and they soared, sinking all three efforts while their opponents erred on each one.

Reward comes with a domestic double alongside January’s Arabian Gulf Cup and qualification to the AFC Champions League, though belief is the biggest take away.

“The game was balanced from both sides,” said Jovanovic, who was so overcome by proceedings he initially declared himself unable to attend the post-match press conference. “It was played on small details.

“These small details changed the psychology of game. This is what happens when you are in a final.

 Al Nasr players surge ahead after sealing victory on Wednesday.
Al Nasr players surge ahead after sealing victory on Wednesday.

“The emotions are very, very strong. At the end, you play these games with heart and strong emotions.”

They had been out thought and out fought, Ahmed Khalil’s first-half opener reward for an Ahli game plan which focused on making the most of goalkeeper Ahmed Shambieh’s uncertainty under the high ball.

The Blue Wave had no answer but they hung on in, taking until winger Pablo Hernandez’s blocked 73rd-minute shot to cause any real concern.

But Jovanovic argued the calibre of opponents beaten along the way made the victory a deserved one.

He said: “I believe as a team we absolutely deserved to win if you see which teams we had to qualify against - like Sharjah, [holders] Al Ain, Al Shabab and Al Ahli.

“I have to congratulate the efforts of my players. They did a big job.”

For the defeated, nightmares of winter and spring resurfaced on a punishingly-hot evening. From the torment of a dreadful Arabian Gulf League defence, Ahli had appeared transformed in recent weeks -the remarkable 3-3 draw last time out on Hazza soil against Al Ain seeing club-best progression to the ACL quarter-finals.

Coach Cosmin Olaroiu cut an increasingly-irritable presence as the match wore on, his anger seeing him eschew his press conference duties and dart for the team coach. He will hope August’s last-eight tie is enough to hold off an unlikely regime change.

Al Nasr star man Pablo Hernandez converted his penalty.
Al Nasr star man Pablo Hernandez converted his penalty.

His side started as they meant to go on during a game which opened with the thermometer pushing above 40C. Goal-hungry centre-back Salmeen Khamis, ex-Nasr midfielder Habib Fardan and Khalil all coming close with headers as Shambieh was bombarded from set pieces and throw-ins.

This approach to ignore the aesthetic in search of victory gained noticeable reward yesterday in the 35th minute when Shambieh was beaten to an Everton Ribeiro corner, Khalil cutting across him to flick home his fifth goal in five games.

Ahli had the lead they deserved and it was one they cherished during a second half in which the pace understandably dropped.

Chances at both ends were non-existent and there was nothing on when right-back Ahmed Al Yassi floated in a hopeful cross with two minutes left, makeshift centre-back Kwon Kyung-won inexplicably slicing into his own net before Nasr had even registered a shot on target.

Extra-time drudged by without highlight, Red Knights substitute Oussama Assaidi stumbling when the best opportunity presented itself.

The winter signing from Liverpool compounded his error, beginning the shootout with a limp saved effort. Veteran captain Luis Jimenez then lashed against the crossbar, a sad way to potentially end four years service to Ahli with his contract rapidly expiring.

Full-back Abdelaziz Sanqour shot wide, setting the stage for Ibrahima Toure to follow in Hernandez and Renan Garcia’s footsteps. The AGL’s second top scorer duly obliged, sealing a smash-and-grab win Nasr will wholeheartedly cherish.


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