Al Wahda FC edged past Al Ain FC in a tense ADIB Cup final on Friday, May 1st, claiming the trophy after a dramatic penalty shootout at the Mohammed Bin Zayed Stadium.
Al Ain looked the sharper team throughout the 90 minutes, carving out the much better openings, but were repeatedly denied by an assured performance from goalkeeper Zayed Al Hamadi.
His early interventions helped settle Al Wahda, who gradually settled into the contest and keep their shape.
As the first half wore on, both teams were struggling to find space in the final third. Al Wahda threatened sporadically, testing Khalid Eisa from range, but clear-cut opportunities were few and far between.
The match remained finely poised heading into the break, with neither side able to establish control, albeit Al Ain was looking the more threatening.
Al Ain pushed forward in the second half, with key man Laba Kodjo posing a consistent threat, while Matías Palacios came close to breaking the deadlock with a big chance.
Al Wahda, meanwhile, looked to exploit transitions, with Dušan Tadić providing moments of attacking quality, though neither side could find the breakthrough.
With the score still level at full-time, the final was settled from the penalty spot. Al Wahda held their nerve under pressure, and it was a delightful panenka that sealed the win for Al Wahda, with Omar Khribin showing exceptional confidence and composure.
The result sees Al Wahda lift their fourth ADIB Cup title, capping a resilient performance and adding another chapter to their growing list of domestic honours.
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