Today's Edition
SHARJAH (ALETIHAD)
Sharjah struck twice in time added on to defeat Saudi Arabia’s Al Taawoun 2-0 in their Asian Champions League Two semi-final second leg on Tuesday.
Ousmane Camara and Firas Ben Arbi were the heroes as Sharjah advanced 2-1 on aggregate to book a final meeting with either Australian club Sydney or Lion City Sailors of Singapore.
The visitors went on the offensive right from the start and could have doubled their aggregate advantage inside the opening five minutes but on both occasions after being put through on goal, neither Sultan Mandash nor Musa Barrow could keep their efforts on target.
A much clearer chance was squandered by Al Taawoun in the 15th minute after a penalty was awarded in their favour following Shaheen Abdalla’s foul on Roger Martinez but Achraf El Mahdioui’s spot-kick was saved by Adel Alhosani.
Having survived the early scare, Cosmin Olaroiu’s side grew into the game with Adel Taarabt at the heart of their more promising moves as the former Benfica man created their first clear opening for Camara but Abdulquddus Atiiay reacted quickly to block.
Alhosani was kept busy as the Sharjah custodian had to punch away a stinging Faycal Fajr half-volley from the edge of the box to keep the match goalless at half-time.
Sharjah started the second half on a more competitive footing, going close in the 48th minute when David Petrovic’s close range attempt was caught by an alert Atiiay. Then Taarabt’s whipped delivery from the left missed his teammates in the box but looked like heading into the far corner before Atiiay pushed the ball away to safety.
As the clock ticked away, a desperate Sharjah threw bodies forward and their perseverance was rewarded in the fourth minute of stoppage time when Camara bundled home a rebound after Atiiay had blocked Tyrone Conraad’s point-blank header.
It got even better for Sharjah six minutes later as Ben Arbi timed his run to perfection to latch onto Caio Fernandes’ through pass before burying his shot past Atiiay to give the UAE side their ticket to the final.
With this, Olaroiu will breathe easy as steam gathers on his possible appointment as the UAE national team manager.
