AFC, Abu Dhabi
Al Wahda were left ruing a series of missed chances as Saba Battery of Iran posted a 4-2 win over the United Arab Emirates’ champions in their Group C encounter at the Al Nahyan Stadium on Wednesday.
Saba took a 2-1 lead at half time and claimed two more early in the second half to effectively shut the door on Al Wahda and take their tally to seven points, leaving their opponents on four at the end of the fourth round of matches in the group.
Alen Advic drew first blood for Saba in the 28th minute, nodding in a high ball that had been headed towards goal by Ali Daei following a cross from Mohammad Navazi.
Navazi was also the creator of Saba’s second goal, the 31-year-old defender sending over the corner from which Saeid Bagi doubled his side’s advantage.
Al Wahda pulled one back through Abdulraheem Jumaa in the 39th minute from a set-piece, but the visitors restored the two-goal lead two minutes after the resumption when Sohrab Bakhtiarizadeh caught the home defence napping to head in a free kick.
Five minutes later Bagi broke through the offside trap to add a second to his name and give Saba a 4-1 lead.
Al Wahda pushed hard to get back in the game and even scored a late goal through Fahed Masoud, but it came too late for the home side.
Al Wahda were the more creative early in the game, and fashioned several scoring opportunities but failed to register due to poor finishing.
Angolan international Maurito fired a weak shot when set up in front of the goal in the fourth minute and Haider Alo Ali’s effort from close range two minutes later was pushed wide by goalkeeper Almir Tolja with his outstretched left leg.
Maurito fired a couple of rockets at the Saba goal, the first going straight into Tolja’s hands while the other flew over the crossbar. And in-between, Masoud, unmarked at the far post, saw his diving header from close range go off target.
Al Wahda’s struggles in front of goal continued in the second half and Ismail Matar’s powerful strike from inside the penalty area was parried by Tolja in the 69th minute as the Iranians did enough to keep their qualification hopes alive.