Al Wasl made an emphatic start to their ADNOC Pro League campaign, cruising to a 5-1 victory over newly promoted United at Zabeel Stadium in a match played in demanding heat and humidity.
The emphatic scoreline sent an early warning to the rest of the league, although it did not fully reflect the balance of play in the opening 45 minutes, when United were arguably the better side.
Al Wasl made the perfect start, taking the lead in the third minute through R. Junior. United responded strongly and deservedly levelled in the 17th minute through Adel Wajdan, with the two sides going into the interval level.
The second half, however, belonged to Al Wasl. The hosts raised the tempo, imposed greater control and benefited from the impact of their substitutes to turn a closely contested match into a comprehensive victory.
An own goal put Al Wasl back in front in the 63rd minute before Serginho added a third in the 87th. Ali Saleh struck two minutes later, and Serginho completed the rout with his second goal deep into stoppage time.
Al Wasl’s Statistical Superiority
The five-goal victory was backed by a clear statistical advantage, particularly after the break.
Al Wasl enjoyed 52 per cent possession compared with United’s 48 per cent and registered 20 shots to their opponents’ 12. The hosts also had eight efforts on target, compared with five for United.
Their superiority was even more pronounced inside the penalty area, where Al Wasl recorded 16 shots compared with seven for United. The hosts also registered 29 touches inside the opposition box, more than double United’s 13.
The expected-goals figures further underlined Al Wasl’s attacking superiority, with the hosts recording 2.45 xG against 1.29 for United. Their shot-on-target quality indicator also favoured Al Wasl significantly, at 3.17 compared with 0.75.
Al Wasl created three big chances, while United produced two, and both sides won four corners.
The home side were also highly efficient in possession, completing 370 of 399 passes for a 93 per cent completion rate. United completed 340 of 379 passes, achieving a respectable 90 per cent accuracy.
Despite those numbers, however, the statistics should not obscure United’s strong showing in the first half, when the visitors looked more comfortable and caused Al Wasl problems before the hosts took control after the interval.
Vitoria: “It Was Not an Easy Game”
Al Wasl head coach Rui Vitória acknowledged the difficulty of the contest despite the size of the final score, pointing to the challenging weather conditions as an important factor.
“It was a very difficult game, and it is not easy to play in these conditions. We started well, but we lost some energy during the first half. The break was important because the players recognised the small details we needed to improve.”
The Portuguese coach also highlighted the decisive contribution of his substitutes, who helped change the complexion of the match.
“The players who came off the bench had a big impact. We controlled the second half and scored five goals, which is important after the hard work we put in during pre-season.”
Vitória stressed the importance of beginning the campaign with a victory.
“The first game is always difficult, but the players deserved the win. It was very important to start the season with a victory. Now the first game is over and we have to think about the next one.”
He added:
“For us, every game is a final. The players were brave and professional. The team was united and showed that we are all working together. When we have that spirit, we become difficult to beat.”
Pereira: Ambitions Go Beyond a Strong Start
Brazilian star Sergio Pereira was also delighted with Al Wasl’s opening-day performance, but stressed that the team’s ambitions extend well beyond a positive start.
Speaking exclusively to Al Nahar, Pereira said:
“It is great to start the season in the best possible way and win at home. We know how important a strong start is because the road is long and we have ambitions to compete for the league title.”
After scoring twice, Pereira added:
“I am very happy with the team, the players, the coaching staff, the management and the fans. We have to keep working and winning in order to achieve our goals.”
Pirlo Unhappy with United’s Response
United head coach Andrea Pirlo, meanwhile, expressed his frustration with his team’s reaction after conceding Al Wasl’s second goal.
The Italian coach felt his side needed to remain focused and stay in the contest for longer, particularly with enough time remaining to mount a comeback.
“After the second goal, we did not have the reaction we needed. We had to stay in the game because there was still a lot of time. We had opportunities to come back, but we gave Al Wasl chances on the counter-attack, especially because of the pace their players have.”
The match statistics reinforced Pirlo’s concerns. Al Wasl produced 20 shots to United’s 12 and recorded 29 touches inside the visitors’ penalty area, compared with 13 for United, giving the hosts a significant attacking advantage, particularly in the second half.
Pirlo also acknowledged that injuries and absences had limited his options, but refused to use them as an excuse.
“It is normal at this stage that we cannot maintain the same level of intensity for 90 minutes, but we have to understand better how to manage the game.”
A Strong Opening Statement
With five goals on the opening matchday, Al Wasl delivered an impressive attacking statement and demonstrated their ability to create and convert chances.
Their superiority in shots, efforts on target, penalty-area entries and passing accuracy reflected a side capable of controlling games and creating sustained pressure, particularly after the break.
United, meanwhile, won 11 free-kicks to Al Wasl’s eight and were caught offside twice, compared with none for the hosts. Yet those figures could not prevent the promoted side from being overwhelmed once Al Wasl found another gear in the second half.
The emphatic victory gives Rui Vitória the ideal start to his campaign and offers an early glimpse of the team he is looking to build. For Al Wasl, however, the message is clear: the objective is not simply to collect three points on the opening weekend, but to remain in the title race all the way to the finish.
