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Dubai: It was a sad night for UAE soccer following defeats for its two representatives in the Asian champions league.
Al Wasl lost at home to Iraqi club Al Quwa Al Jawiya 1-0 in group B, while Al Wahda were crushed 4-1 by Al Karama of Syria in an away match in group C.
Everything was set for Al Wasl to have a good start in the Asian tournament. The team was fit and ready without any absentees or injuries.
Their loyal supporters and fans from other UAE clubs filled the stadium and supporting them all the way.
Shaikh Hamdan Bin Mohammad Bin Rashid Al Maktoum, Crown Prince of Dubai, attended the match to give more support to the home team.
Shaikh Hamdan ordered entrance for the match to be free so that thousands of supporters could watch the game but the Al Wasl players failed to achieve victory.
The turning point was the missed penalty for Al Wasl which came in injury time in the first half. Brazilian Andre Diaz, who was brought down by the Iraqi defence, took the penalty but his shot went wide of the post.
Offside
The Iraqi club were the better side in the first session and could have finished winners with a big margin had their strikers Haitham Tahir, Ali Mansour, Azhar Taha not wasted several scoring chances.
Ali Mansour compensated the lost chances by scoring the winner in 32nd minute with a fine header that beat Majed Naser the Al Wasl custodian to his right.
Al Wasl stormed back in the second half to try to score the equaliser, but were unlucky.
Brazilian striker Olivera levelled in the first minute of the second half, but his effort was ruled offside by the Saudi referee Khalil Al Ghamdi.
Brazilian coach Ze Mario of Al Wasl brought in strikers Mohammad Ennazy and Rogero to attack with four players in addition to Diaz and Olivera. But the scoring chances were lost in front of the Iraqi goal by Khalid Darwish, Olivera, Diaz, Ennazy and Rogero.
They were unlucky when Ennazy's shot hit the cross bar and Diaz couldn't score from a one to one situation after he faced the Iraqi goalkeeper Wisam Qasid.
The Iraqi defenders Hussain Waheed, Mokhalad Bumutair, Ali Hasan did well in the second half clearing all the dangerous attempts from their penalty area.
Al Wasl will travel to Iran to meet Saipa in their second match in group B next Wednesday.
Kuwait club and Saipa drew 1-1 in their first match held on Wednesday in Kuwait.
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