After a “dramatic” match, Al-Wahda wins the UAE Challenge Shield

Al-Wahda team won the Emirati-Qatari Football Challenge Shield title, following its “dramatic” and difficult victory over Al-Duhail of Qatar with an unanswered goal, in the match that brought together the two teams this evening at Al Nahyan Stadium, in the presence of about seven thousand spectators, including nearly 200 fans who accompanied Al-Duhail to the capital, Abu Dhabi.

Syrian international Omar Khribin scored the only goal of the match from a penalty kick in the 29th minute, while Al Wahda goalkeeper Zayed Al Hammadi played the most prominent role in achieving the victory, after he saved his goal from conceding no less than three chances over the course of the two halves of the match.
Despite the numerical deficiency in Al-Duhail’s ranks following the expulsion of goalkeeper Salah Zakaria in the 11th minute, which forced the Qatari team to complete the match with ten players, Al-Duhail appeared to be a stubborn opponent and imposed continuous pressure until the final minutes.
The last moments of stoppage time witnessed Al-Duhail scoring the equalizer through Adel Boulbena, but the referee canceled the goal due to a violation. The referee also showed a red card to Al-Wahda player Abdullah Hamad for a second warning before blowing his whistle for Al-Wahda’s victory and crowning them with the title.