Al Nasr and Al Wasl share spoils in goalless derby

Al Nasr and Al Wasl played out a 0-0 draw in the Bur Dubai derby at Rashid Al Maktoum Stadium in the opening matchweek of the 2019/20 Arabian Gulf League season on Friday.

Al Wasl looked more dangerous in the early stages of the game, with Ali Saleh coming close to breaking the deadlock in the 22nd minute. The 19-year-old went in a one-on-one situation with the Al Nasr keeper Ahmed Shambieh, but the latter diverted it into a corner.

On the half-hour mark, Shambieh was in the middle of action again when he cleared the ball before it reached Welliton.

Only five minutes later, Al Wasl were forced into an early substitution when Abdulrahman Ali pulled off an injury, making way for Khalid Sabeal.

After coming on as a second half substitution, Habib Al Fardan created some problems for Al Wasl defense. Nine minutes from time, Al Fardan came close to breaking the deadlock off a header, but Al Wasl keeper cleared the danger to keep the game goalless.

Al Nasr pushed forward in the final minutes of the game, hoping to get a late winner, but they failed to find the back of the net. This marked the first goalless draw in the 2019/20 season.

Al Wasl and Al Nasr now sit in eighth and ninth place on one point. Meanwhile, the UAE Pro League celebrated the 89th National Day of Saudi Arabia during the opening matchweek of the 2018-19 Arabian Gulf League.

Marking the occasion, congratulatory messages were displayed in the giant screens, LED boards and on the stands across all host stadiums.

The opening weekend’s fixtures saw the players and referees enter the pitch dressed in special shirts designed for this dear occasion.

The players’ entry arch in the matchweek-ending ‘ Match of the Week’ between Al Nasr and Al Wasl was also decorated with a similar message.

In turn, fans joined on the celebrations, carrying Saudi flags and singing dedicated chants on the occasion.

The UAE Pro League has been observation the Saudi national day every year, taking part in the celebrations of the government and people of Saudi Arabia to affirm the solidarity and brotherhood between the brotherly nations of the UAE and Saudi.

Elsewhere, Al Jazira’s first-team football stars and head coach took time out from their busy schedule to meet their fans and members of the public during the club’s season launch at Yas Mall on Friday evening.

People of all ages gathered at the spectacular Fan Zone as they got a glimpse of the UAE and foreign players including club captain Ali Khaseif, prolific striker Ali Mabkhout and playmaker Khalfan Mubarak.

There was even more excitement when Al Jazira’s seven summer signings were unveiled to the public for the first time.

The Pride of Abu Dhabi has heavily strengthened the squad with the additions of UAE stars –– attacker Omar Abdulrahman, midfielders Amer Abdulrahman, Sultan Al Ghaferi, Brazilian forward Keno, Serbian defender Milos Kosanovic, South African midfielder Thulani Serero and Moroccan forward Mourad Batna. Making the interactions and event more memorable were the fun challenges that saw the players come up against their team-mates and fans.

Kosanovic, Khaseif, Al Ghaferi and Keno were among those to play foosball while Mohammed Fawzi took on fans with a game of FIFA on the PlayStation.

As well as the players signing autographs and taking pictures with people of all ages, the season launch also saw the players unveil Al Jazira’s new home and away kit.

Head coach Jurgen Streppel also took to the stage for a short Q&A session. With a crucial season ahead, Streppel spoke about what they want to achieve as a team and the importance of Abu Dhabi communities coming together to show their support.

Streppel said: “Thank you to everyone who attended today. Now that the new season is officially underway, we want to win every game and we will do our utmost best to achieve that as well as playing attractive football.