Al Wahda players celebrate with the President's Cup trophy after their victory over Al Nasr in the final on Friday. Pawan Singh / The National
Al Wahda players celebrate with the President's Cup trophy after their victory over Al Nasr in the final on Friday. Pawan Singh / The National

Balazs Dzsudzsak delivers as Al Wahda beat 10-man Al Nasr to win President’s Cup



Al Nasr 0-3 Al Wahda

Wahda: Dzsudzsak (67', 82'), Ahmed (80')

Man of the match: Balazs Dzsudzsak (Al Wahda)

ABU DHABI // Al Wahda are President’s Cup champions for only the second time after they defeated Al Nasr 3-0 at Zayed Sports City on Friday night.

The Abu Dhabi side, who lifted the trophy in 2000, were deserved winners on a sapping evening in the capital, winning through a Balazs Dzsudzsak double and Tariq Ahmed’s strike.

Dzsudzsak opened the scoring midway through the second half, after Nasr defender Masoud Sulaiman had blocked the ball with his hands in the penalty area. The Emirati was promptly sent off.

Dzsudzsak, Wahda’s hero from the semi-final, seized the chance to put his side ahead, although he had to prod home the rebound once Nasr goalkeeper Ahmed Shambieh tipped his spot-kick onto the post.

Wahda doubled their advantage in the 80th minute, Tariq Ahmed side-footing the ball into an empty net after Mubarak Saeed had failed to clear. It was another costly error for Nasr.​

The victory, and the cup, was wrapped up two minutes later, when Dzsudzsak’s 25-yard effort was misjudged by Shambieh before it nestled in the net. Wahda celebrated wildly at the final whistle having clinched a first President’s Cup in 17 years and, with it, a place in next year’s Asian Champions League.

jmcauley@thenational.ae

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