Diego Maradona’s Al Wasl club has been knocked out of the Etisalat Cup, losing 1-0 to Dubai neighbour Al Alhi in an ill-tempered semifinal in which his goalkeeper attacked the opposing coach.
The loss likely ends Maradona’s chances of winning any silverware in his first year in the United Arab Emirates league. Al Wasl missed out on the President’s Cup and is fifth in the league, 12 points adrift of leader Al Ain.
“Of course, there is nothing to celebrate,” Maradona said on Sunday. “But that doesn’t mean it’s the end of the journey. We did what we could and Al Wasl will continue to perform for next season.”
Maradona signed a two-year contract with Al Wasl in July.
Al Alhi started pressuring Al Wasl in the second half. It paid off in the 61st minute when Ismaeel al-Hamadi chipped a pass into the area for substitute Faisal Khalil to slot the ball home.
Al Wasl striker Juan Olivera could have drawn his club level but his shot from inside the area went just wide in the 82nd minute. The visitors had two more good chances in stoppage time but couldn’t convert.
The two teams clashed on the pitch minutes after the match, with Al Wasl goalkeeper Majed Naser slapping Al Alhi coach Quique Sanches Flores on the back of the head. Flores, who has coached Valencia and Atletico Madrid, said the attack was unprovoked but that he was unhurt in the incident.
Al Alhi vice-chairman Sweidan al-Naboodah later apologised on Twitter to Florez and Al Alhi fans for the incident. Naser was also suspended indefinitely by the club.
The bad blood continued into the new conferences, with Maradona accusing Florez of encouraging his players to fake injuries and fall to the pitch throughout the match.
“This is not the way football should be played. This was quite ugly,” Maradona said. “This type of play is unfortunate.
“He knows the type of beautiful football that can be played when he used to coach Atletico Madrid and Valencia. The only thing he has taught his team is how to fall on the ground.”
Flores seemed bemused by the allegations, though he said several of his players were injured during the match.
At least four Al Alhi players had what appeared to be cramps or injuries in the second half, resulting in six minutes of injury time.
“If Maradona thinks the players fell to the grass, that is his problem not mine,” Flores said. “Things have changed a lot in the last three months. Al Wasl beat us 4-0 (in the President’s Cup) then and now we are in the final.”
Al Alhi will face Al Shabab in the final on May 26. Al Shabab beat 2011 league champion Al Jazira 4-0 in the other semifinal.
