Al Nasr draw at Al Wahda thanks to Baiano own goal

There was to be no late Luca Toni intervention at the Al Nahyan Stadium Tuesday night as Al Nasr’s Pro League title hopes were dealt a potentially fatal blow as they were held to a 1-1 draw by Al Wahda. Toni, Al Nasr’s marquee January recruit from Juventus, marked his debut last weekend with a late winner in his side’s 2-1 victory over Ajman. But there was to be no repeat last night as Walter Zenga’s men were forced to settle for a point, a result that leaves them two points behind leaders Al Ain, having played a game more. Al Nasr however, made the return journey to Dubai from the capital feeling a deep sense of injustice as they were denied what Zenga described afterwards as a “clear penalty” in the dying moments. Hugo Henrique had given Wahda the lead midway through the first half, only for Fernando Baiano’s own goal just seconds after the restart to unravel all their good work and ensure Nasr’s unbeaten league run now stretches to 11 games. Al Nasr began the match in the ascendancy, their tactic of working the ball into wide areas whenever possible to feed Toni proving effective, if not pleasing on the eye, in the early stages. Amara Diane wrongfully had a ‘goal’ ruled out for offside while Toni did well to evade his marker but could only head straight at Wahda ‘keeper Mutaz Abdulla in the opening quarter of an hour. Wahda however were continuing to look menacing on the break with the lively Ismail Matar, as he so often is, at the heart of much of their best attacking moves. And they were duly celebrating the opening goal of the night in the 23rd minute. Hugo, profiting from the excellent work down the right hand side by Mohamed Al Shehhi, scoring with a rasping drive from the edge of the area which left Al Nasr ‘keeper Mutaz Abdulla with no chance. Wahda ended the half on top and perhaps could have extended their lead, but Hugo’s enterprising run and shot flew just wide of the post, much to the relief of Nasr’s travelling support. Al Nasr boss Zenga has done very little wrong this season and his half-time pep talk certainly had the desired effect as his side drew level within seconds of the restart, which owed much to good fortune as it did skill. Talal Hamad’s devilish in-swinging free-kick from wide on the left evaded everyone, apart from Wahda striker Baiano that is, as the ball flew off his shoulder to nestle in the bottom corner. Game on. With their tails now up, Al Nasr took the game by the scruff of the neck. Toni fired over after managing to find space for the first time in the evening after being marshaled superbly by Omar Ali Ahmed throughout, before Mark Bresciano fired a free-kick straight at Mutaz. But the major talking point was yet to arrive. Three minutes was all that remained when Diane was sent tumbling inside the area after a rash challenge by Eisa Ahmed. But the referee was having none of it and waved away the penalty appeals much to astonishment of many inside the stadium. How costly that decision will prove to be for Al Nasr come the end of the season remains to be seen. But one thing is for certain, it’s definitely advantage Al Ain in the title race now.