Al Wahda produced a composed yet ruthless performance to claim a 3-1 win over Al Bataeh, in a match that mixed early dominance, moments of brilliance, and late drama in matchweek six of the ADNOC Pro League on Friday.
The visitors’ early pressure paid dividends inside ten minutes when Lucas Pimenta pounced on a loose ball in the area after Omar Khribin’s initial strike had been blocked. It was a goal that embodied persistence and sharp awareness, setting the tempo for Al Wahda’s commanding display.
Dusan Tadic then stamped his authority on proceedings with a moment of pure class. Capitalising on a misplaced pass from Edilson Alberto, the Serbian maestro spotted the goalkeeper off his line and produced a sensational chipped finish, perfectly weighted and executed with minimal backlift.
It was a finish of composure and vision, one that underlined his pedigree and placed Al Wahda firmly in control after just 14 minutes.
Al Wahda’s third came in bizarre fashion but was no less telling. Under pressure from another precise Tadic through ball, Oumar Keita inadvertently lofted the ball over his own goalkeeper, an own goal that summed up Al Bataeh’s defensive uncertainty and Al Wahda’s attacking intelligence.
The match, however, took a twist just after the hour mark. Jadsom Da Silva was sent off in the 63rd minute for a reckless challenge on Antonio Fialho, reducing Al Wahda to ten men.
Al Bataeh seized the initiative almost immediately, with Edilson Alberto making amends for his earlier error by finishing clinically from close range in the 67th minute.
They nearly made it 3-2 when Alvaro de Oliveira’s powerful effort rattled the crossbar, a moment that could have turned the tide.
Lucas Pimenta, impressive at both ends, came to Al Wahda’s rescue in the 88th minute, clearing Anatole Bertrand’s strike off the line to preserve the two-goal cushion.
Any hopes of a late Al Bataeh surge evaporated when Gianluca Muniz was shown a red for a reckless challenge on Bernardo Folha, ensuring both sides finished with ten men.
The result sees Al Wahda temporarily move to the top of the table with 14 points, while Al Bataeh remain 12th on three, their defensive lapses leaving plenty to ponder ahead of the next round.
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