Al Jazira produced a brilliant comeback to overturn a 1–0 deficit and defeat Al Wasl 2–1 with a decisive stoppage-time winner, sealing the fourth and final spot in the ADIB Cup semi-finals on Sunday.
Al Wasl made the early breakthrough when Pedro Malheiro calmly converted from the penalty spot, stroking his effort into the bottom corner despite the goalkeeper diving the right way.
But the lead lasted barely two minutes. Vinicius Mello brought Al Jazira level, latching onto Abdalla Ramadan’s excellent through ball before drilling a composed finish into the bottom left corner.
Al Wasl thought they had regained the advantage just before the hour mark when Sergio Pereira delivered a perfect cross for Siaka Sidibé to head it in, but the goal was ruled out for a foul on the Al Jazira goalkeeper.
Minutes later, Al Jazira had a goal chalked off of their own after Mamadou Coulibaly fired in what he believed was the lead, only for VAR to intervene and disallow the strike.
The decisive moment came deep into stoppage time. Nikola Vukić timed his run perfectly to meet a low cross from Vinicius Mello, guiding the ball into the back of the net to complete Al Jazira’s comeback and secure their place in the last four.
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The first leg at Mohammed Bin Zayed Stadium had finished goalless, making Vukić’s late winner all the more dramatic.
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