Al Wasl's campaign to defend their ADNOC Pro League title got off to a shaky start as they were held to a 2-2 draw by Kalba. Despite a brace from Fabio De Lima, Al Wasl was unable to secure all three points, as Kalba struck late to snatch a valuable draw in a thrilling season opener.
The game kicked off with an electric atmosphere, as both teams vied for control. Kalba had the first significant chance in the 23rd minute when Mehdi Ghayedi’s shot narrowly missed the target.
The second half saw the action intensify. Fabio De Lima put Al Wasl ahead in the 52nd minute with a well-placed left-footed strike from the edge of the box, marking his fifth goal in opening-round matches for Al Wasl.
Kalba responded swiftly. Just four minutes later, Mehdi Ghayedi leveled the score, pouncing on a rebound after Khalid Ali Aldarmaki’s powerful shot was parried by the Al Wasl goalkeeper. Ghayedi’s goal was his fifth in his last seven league games.
Al Wasl regained the lead in the 67th minute when Fabio De Lima struck again with a clever low free-kick that slipped past Kalba’s goalkeeper Eisa Houti. This marked Lima’s fourth career goal from a free-kick in the league.
As the match neared its final minutes, Kalba intensified their efforts to find an equalizer. Their persistence paid off in the 97th minute when Abdul Sallam Mohameed scored a dramatic equalizer, heading in a perfectly placed free-kick from Filip Kiss. The late goal secured a well-earned point for Kalba and left Al Wasl frustrated.
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