Filed under: Club support, Live match reports, United Arab Emirates League | Tags: Al Wahda, loyalty, United Arab Emirates League football
With Liverpool knocked out of the FA Cup Saturday and their Champions League tie not until Tuesday, I wished to fill my Sunday afternoon with some local football. I imagined that a match between mid-table Al Wahda FC (located not far from my apartment, they are practically my home team), and basement-dwelling Emirates, in a United Arab Emirates League match would lift my spirits.
So I caught a cab to the stadium behind Al Wahda Mall and met up with a friend. Having seen one match previously, he was already a loyal fan.
It was my first taste of UAE football and I was eager — perhaps over eager — to fall in love with Al Wahda as he had. Afterall, it would be the first time I had a club to support whose matches I could watch live. While I’ve seen Toronto FC play, it was business-related viewing and the closest I’ve gotten to seeing Liverpool live was from the First National pub.
So I bought a scarf and ambled into the free match, expecting an easy win and the beginning of a fruitful relationship.
Things started promisingly for Al Wahda — who last lifted the league trophy in 2005 — when they opened the scoring in the 12th minute. The bleachers were far from full but the crowd around me — all men, most wearing disdasha’s — was in good spirits. In the bleachers opposite me, a large group dressed (and presumably paid for their efforts) sang constantly. Near the end of the half, when they broke out the Arabic version of “We Will Rock You,” including the verses, I had fallen in love.
It took 45 minutes for the honeymoon to end.
After a half-hour half-time break, Al Wahda came out looking sleepy and within minutes had conceded the equalizer. Later, the impossible happened when a through-ball into the area was knocked into the back of Al Wahda’s net. My friend and I shook our heads ruefully as the crowd around us actually applauded the goal, each clap dripping with sarcasm. They weren’t happy at all and neither was I.
“This is disgusting,” I said.
“That sums it up perfectly,” my friend replied.
Minutes later, Emirates added a third on a 50-yard free kick that bounded past everyone into the back of the net. I looked to my friend and asked, “Are there any other teams in Abu Dhabi?” Turns out Al-Jazira Sports Club play just as close to where I live and are currently in third place in the league.
“I think I might go watch them play,” I said. “Before I get stuck supporting these guys for the rest of my time here.”
“You’re already hooked mate,” he said.
The home fans kept applauding Emirates, who were actually showboating with the ball now. When the final whistle mercifully blew, they crowded the guard rail and clapped and cheered their team’s effort wildly. Policemen wearing track suits kept a watchful eye.
Al Wahda’s next home game isn’t until April and Al Jazira have three home games in the interim. There is time for me to save myself yet.
But like Nick Hornby with Arsenal, I fear I am already a goner. Al Wahda may not play very attractive football, but “We Will Rock You” never sounded so good.
Filed under: Players, Serie A | Tags: Antonio Cassano, derby, Derby della Laterna, Genoa, Sampdoria
I have heard a lot about Antonio Cassano’s brilliant play for Sampdoria this season. I’ve read a lot about it, too. I have seen the choppy, blurry YouTube highlights of his many goals, his many near goals, and his many set-ups. But due to my reliance on TLN for Italian soccer coverage, I had not seen Cassano play an entire game until this morning, when I watched Samp take on their derby rivals Genoa.
The jewel of Old Bari was by far the best player on the pitch in the Blucerchiati’s 1-0 win, delivering several magnificent through balls, including one that followed a wicked spin deke in midfield. He set up the game-winning goal by dribbling around two defenders and curling a perfect back-post cross to goalscorer Christian Maggio. When the ref blew the final whistle to end the match, Cassano, who was substituted in the final minutes, dumped a bottle of water onto the head of Samp manager and Dustin Hoffman lookalike Walter Mazzarri to celebrate.
Cassano is occasionally known by the nickname Peter Pan, due to his seeming inability to grow up. (A nickname less commonly used in the media but probably more commonly used among fans is “Whiny Bitch.”) Though his immaculate skills shone in today’s Derby della Lanterna, the immaturity and petulance that makes him one of the most despised players in the game today was also on full display. He yapped at the official incessantly, drawing a yellow card for arguing in the 26th minute. On several occasions, he went to ground without provocation, clutching his face like he’d taken a punch from Joe Frazier.
Despite all this, Cassano seems to have found a home with his new club (although it should be remembered he’s still on load from Real Madrid). The club, including Mazzarri, seems willing to put up with Peter Pan’s antics so long as he leads them to victory, and hopefully, a UEFA Cup spot. Cassano, for his part, is at his best when he doesn’t have to share the spotlight. Unfortunately, like a child, sometimes he doesn’t seem to care whether the attention he gets is good or bad.
The 28 year old Honduran striker was one of Inter’s many purchases before the end of the August transfer period for 2007. And by all accounts, he has proved to be one of the better investments by Inter president Massimo Morratti.
The genuine motive behind Inter’s surprise move for a fifth high ranking striker is a bit blurred. No one is doubting Suazo’s impact in Serie A, yet the controversy surrounding his signing plays well into the mindgames and politics between the Inter and Milan clubs. There was a tug-of-war going on for Suazo between the two Milan clubs. Inter being the first to claim his services, then Milan, and eventually Suazo was unveiled in the Inter jersey after heavy media coverage. With the departure of Andriy Shevchenko to Chelsea and Alberto Gilardino not being able to deliver on a consistent basis, Milan’s only established goal scorer was in the form of Pippo Inzaghi. But at 34 years of age, Inzaghi cannot be charged with a full campaign consisting of Serie A, Champions League, Coppa Italia, and the Club World Cup. Using Kaka as an out and out striker did have some success, but few people will disagree that Kaka is best utilized running at defenders from a deeper position. Milan needed David Suazo much more than Inter did. And with a minimal 10 million Euro price tag, Suazo’s transfer can easily be seen as the most important internal transfer in Serie A.
In Cagliari, Suazo had two seasons in Serie B due to relegation but continued to produce the goals. Promotion back to Serie A also saw the arrival of Gianfranco Zola. Truly a great player with a world class reputation. Make no mistake about it; having a great player such as Zola within your team ranks can greatly improve player development. Zola himself was privileged enough to play alongside Diego Maradonna at Napoli when he first began his career in Serie A and to this very day admits he learned everything from the Argentine. The learning circle continues as Suazo scored 43 goals in Cagliari within Serie A, with a large chunk of goals coming from the creative genius of Zola. Suazo is not only a certified finisher of exceptional quality but he has also been educated in Italian soccer with a prestigious teacher in Zola.
Currently, the 2007/2008 season has seen Inter score 48 goals. Unfortunately for Suazo, the combination of Zlatan Ibrahimovic and Julio Cruz have accounted for 24 of the 48 (Ibrahimovic claiming 14 and Cruz with 10) and has limited his playing time. Suazo has still made the most of his opportunities in both Serie A and the Champions league, netting goals in both competitions. On Saturday, Suazo scored a brace to beat Livorno 2-0 as Crespo and himself partnered up to rest Ibrahimovic and Cruz ahead of the Champions League tie against Liverpool. Inter’s ability to field two proven and effective pairs of strikers are the reason they are in first place in Serie A with 59 points (9 ahead of second place Roma, and 21 points ahead of fourth place Milan) and why they are favoured to take this year’s Champions League title. The arsenal of offence available for Coach Roberto Mancini is allowing him to keep his strikers rested, healthy, and hungry. With a world class midfield, strong and fearless defenders, and the goaltender that is Julio Cesar, Inter are finally becoming the team they’ve always wanted to be.
the back four 