Al Wasl clinch UAE-Qatar Super Shield crown

Al Wasl claimed the UAE-Qatar Super Shield title with a hard-fought 1-0 win over Al Sadd in an intense encounter at Jassim Bin Hamad Stadium.

Nicolas Gimenez was the hero of the night, scoring a thrilling goal in the 54th minute that sealed the championship for Al Wasl.

The match began with Al Wasl showing attacking attempts from the start, putting Al Sadd under pressure in the opening minutes.

In the 11th minute, Abdelrahman Saleh orchestrated a swift counter-attack and delivered a pinpoint pass to Haris Seferovic, whose powerful shot was brilliantly saved by Al Sadd goalkeeper Saad Alsheeb. Al Wasl maintained their dominance throughout the first half, creating several opportunities to break the deadlock.

Ali Saleh came close in the 41st minute with a well-struck shot that deflected off Al Sadd defender Pedro, keeping the game level at halftime.

In the second half, Al Sadd looked to shift momentum, but their attacks lacked the sharpness to trouble Al Wasl’s defense.

The breakthrough moment arrived in the 54th minute when Gimenez unleashed a stunning long-range strike into the top corner, giving Al Wasl a deserved lead and sending their fans into raptures.

Al Sadd intensified their efforts to equalize, coming close in the 67th minute with a powerful header that Al Wasl goalkeeper Khaled Alsenaani superbly saved.

The Qatari side refused to back down, throwing everything they had at Al Wasl’s defense. Their best chance came in the 78th minute when Rafael Mujica unleashed a thunderous shot from just outside the penalty area.

The strike had power, precision, and intent, but luck was not on their side. The ball crashed against the crossbar with a resounding thud, bouncing back into play and sparking a collective sigh of relief among Al Wasl’s fans.

As the game approached its end, Salem Al Azizi made a heroic goal-line clearance in the 94th minute to preserve Al Wasl’s lead and secure their victory.

Meanwhile, the UAE Pro League, in partnership with Mubadala Investment Company, the Authority of Social Contribution – Ma’an, and the Zayed Higher Organization for People of Determination, launched the highly anticipated “Football for People of Determination” programme on Saturday.

The program, hosted at Active Al Maryah Island in Abu Dhabi, will run over four weeks.

This initiative is part of a broader community partnership agreement signed in October 2024, which aims to promote inclusion and empowerment through sports.

The agreement focuses on providing football activities for people of determination and senior citizens, while also offering opportunities for training in sports management, technical analysis, and organizing health and football festivals for children.

Members of Al Wasl team celebrate with the trophy after winning the match against Al Sadd.