Friday, Sep 16, 2011
Gulf News
Dubai Azizbek Haydarov stole the debut headlines from David Trezeguet in the opening match of the Etisalat Cup between Bani Yas and Shabab Al Arabi yesterday at the Maktoum Bin Rashid Al Maktoum Stadium in Al Mamzar.
The Uzbek defensive midfielder netted twice in a 4-1 thriller, taking the limelight away from French World Cup and European Championship winning Trezeguet, who by comparison, made a muted start to his Bani Yas career.
Juventus’ top-scoring non-Italian of all-time — with 138 — couldn’t do much to stem the tide as Shabab started the defence of their Etisalat Cup in style, amid steaming temperatures, killing the game off early in the second half.
It was Bani Yas who took the lead on 18 minutes after Nawaf Mubarak Musabah chipped a free kick from the edge of the box, over the wall and beyond the grasp of keeper Esmail Rabee Juma.
But the home-side Shabab restored order at 25 minutes when Julio Cesar converted, from the spot with a penalty-kick, stabbed just left of centre to evade the outstretched arms of Mohammad Khalef.
Uzbekistan’s Azizbek Haydarov impressed on his UAE debut by clinching Shabab’s second. His 25 yard effort caught a deflection and a lucky bounce to pea-roll over the left fist of Khalef, trickling into the net behind on 30 minutes, evoking delightful reactions in the terraces from the home support.
Always pushing
Elsewhere Trezequet got a header on six minutes from a Musabah cross but it was palmed away by Juma and into the path of Fareed Esmail who fired it too far left of the post.
Musabah also hit the left post on 34 minutes from 30 yards out, as Bani Yas tried to find their way back into the match. But Shabab were always pushing, with Abdullah Darwish hitting the upright on 38 minutes and Eisa Obaid twice being denied a penalty arguably deserved on 42 and 45 minutes.
Early in the second half Haydarov’s already now legendary status at the club was sealed on 47 minutes when another deflected shot bobbled beyond Khalef from outside the area to make it 3-1 Shabab.
Carlos Villaneuva was then denied a penalty on 50 minutes but in the ensuing chaos Jociel Ferreira Da Silva put Julio Cesar through on goal who sold the out-coming Khalef a dummy to tap home a fourth. Cesar could have hit a hat-trick on 61 minutes from a Ciel cross but for a blocked scramble on the line.
Shabab continued to test Bani Yas’ nerve when on 66 minutes Eisa Obaid struck the left post from an outstanding 30 yard strike.
Trezeguet’s second half contribution was to strike a deflected shot wide for a corner on 67 minutes. He then over struck on 75 minutes. Shabab went down to ten men on 74 minutes after Abdullah Darwish received a second yellow.
Brace-netter Cesar made way for Ramadan Al Mass on 77 minutes, before Bani Yas were themselves reduced in staff when on 80 minutes Thamer Mohammad marched for a second bookable offence — his first yellow had come on 42 minutes. Ciel and Villaneuva came off on 84 minutes as Shabab took comfort from the lead.
By Ashley Hammond?Staff Reporter
Gulf News 2011. All rights reserved.
