DUBAI // Paulo Bonamigo has backed Al Shabab to clinch their place in the semi-finals of the Etisalat Cup at Baniyas next week after they failed to do it Friday night at home following a 1-1 draw against Al Nasr.
Had Shabab won the game, they would have been assured of a place in the last four, but this result means the second semi-finalists from Group B - joining Al Ahli- will not be decided until the final round of group matches next week. Shabab and Al Ahli are top of the table with 17 points each, with Baniyas on 14.
The tie-breaker, should all teams finish level on points, is head-to-head record. Ahli, who face Ajman next week, have a better head-to-head record against both Shabab and Baniyas, putting them through.
Shabab beat Baniyas 4-1 in the first meeting of the two teams, meaning the Abu Dhabi side will have to better that score line next week to progress.
"If you see Baniyas in the last two matches, they have got good results," said Bonamigo, referring to wins over Al Jazira and Ajman. "They have a chance to qualify, so we understand how difficult this game is going to be. But we are a mature squad and we know what to do. We are not under any pressure."
Shabab took the lead early in the second half last night. The goal came after a brilliant run by the Chilean Carlos Villanueva, who remained on his feet despite two nasty challenges and set up Hamdan Qassim, who thrashed it home from a tight angle.
Ciel should have doubled the score in the 73rd minute after a neat one-two with Villanueva, but his chip over the advancing keeper was just wide. The miss proved costly as, a minute later, Luca Toni equalised for the visitors, sliding in to put Jamal Ibrahim's cross into the back of the net.
Nasr are not in the reckoning for a place in the knockout stages, but Stefano Cusin, the team's assistant coach, said it was still an important game.
"The focus was to try our young players because they are the future of the club and find some new solutions for the team, and I believe we achieved our objectives," Cusin said. "All the people saw Nasr play a good game with a lot of new players.
"The second thing is, we have to give our best at all times. Whether we are in the running or not, it does not matter.
"We are a great club and we have to play for the pride of this club and our fans."
Cusin attended the press conference in place of Walter Zenga, the coach, who was sent to the stands in the 36th minute after an argument with the fourth official following an erroneous call by a linesman.
Nasr were reduced to 10 men in the 88th minute after Ali Salem collected his second booking of the night. Cusin refused to talk about the refereeing, instead praising the performance of Nasr's reserve-team players.
IN OTHER GAMES
SHARJAH 1, AL AHLI 4: A full-strength Al Ahli team made simple work of struggling Sharjah to put them into the semi-finals of the competition. Each of the Dubai club's three foreign players got on the score sheet. Ahli, who play Ajman in their final match, top Group B with Shabab, whose game with Baniyas next week will determine the other semi-finalist from the group.
AJMAN 1, BANIYAS 2: Fareed Ismail poked home a pass from Mohammed Fawzi to give fast-finishing Baniyas a chance to reach the semi-finals. Ajman’s hopes of advancing ended as they were unable to hold the lead provided by a first-half goal by Olivier Tia.