Al Wahda 1 // Baniyas 3
ABU DHABI // Baniyas star Mustafa Kareem needed only 57 seconds of his side's penultimate league fixture to score what was arguably the goal of this season.
How else could you describe it when the yellow-booted playmaker controlled a pass on the edge of Al Wahda's penalty box and, with his back to goal, took the ball on his chest and then sent an overhead kick past the hapless keeper Adel Mohamed?
Even the home fans inside Al Nahyan Stadium approved of Kareem's audacious skill.
They were not so impressed on 17 minutes when their team were reduced to 10 men, Al Wahda's Hamdan Al Kamili shown a straight red card for a foul on Amer Al Hammadi by referee Mohamed Hassan. It looked a booking and no more.
But things went for really bad for last season's champions five minutes later.
Baniyas were simply too strong as striker Fawzi Bashir saw one shot saved by Adel, and then made no mistake with his second opportunity, a sweetly hit low drive with his left foot.
It was 3-0 after 32 minutes when Andre Senghour ran clear of the Al Wahda defence and took the ball around the keeper before sending his shot into the top corner for his 16th goal of the campaign.
In fairness Wahda were much better after the break and deserved their goal when a Hugo Henrique half-volley from 20 yards crept inside the left hand post. Saqer Hammadi then missed a glorious chance to get his side a second when he blasted over from close range.
