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MIGHTY Muharraq spoiled Diego Maradona’s Arab adventure by doing it the ‘Trust Re way’ in Dubai to lift the Gulf region’s Champions League trophy.
The former Argentinian star striker and coach ended his first season with UAE side Al Wasl still searching for his maiden trophy as a manager after the team were beaten on penalties by the Bahrain side.
The Argentine who won the World Cup as a player in 1986 seemed set to end that trophy drought as Al Wasl held a 3-1 lead going into Sunday’s second leg at home. However, they lost the match 3-1 after having goalkeeper Majed Nasser and forward Rashed Essa sent off.
With the tie level at 4-4, it went straight to penalties at the end of normal time and Al Wasl appeared in charge when Muharraq missed their second kick. But former Argentine midfielder Juan Mercier, recruited by Maradona, right, during the January transfer window, missed with Al Wasl’s fourth attempt and when Mubarak Hassan failed to convert the home side’s first kick in sudden death it meant a maiden Champions League title to a Bahraini side.
Muharraq’s hero was goalkeeper Abdullah Kaabi who made two dramatic saves.
The GCC Champions League this season was contested by 12 teams from Bahrain, Kuwait, Oman, Qatar and the United Arab Emirates.
The players received a rapturous welcome from fans and officials when they arrived back at Bahrain International Airport on Monday afternoon.
