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Maradona steals show in team’s loss

Comment: 0 September 16th, 2011 by: admin

HIS team suffered a heartbreaking defeat but it was Diego Maradona, with his courtside theatrics in full display, who stole the show on Thursday.

In his first match in-charge of Al Wasl, Maradona saw his side losing 3-4 to reigning league champions Al Jazira at the Mohammed Bin Zayed Stadium.

But it was his antics, not necessarily the loss nor their rival’s win, which got the crowd on their feet.

He wore his ubiquitous two wristwatches on the sidelines and when he thought that calls were bad, threw his hands up and argued with officials.

When midfielder Mariano Donda scored the second of their three goals, he let out a long, loud scream. At one time, he regaled the fans by juggling a ball and then later in the press conference, blamed organisers for arriving late.

“I thank my players because they did very well. The result should have been 3-3. They fought to a man in the field and in the end I am very happy with them,’’ said the Argentine football legend, lauding his club from the United Arab Emirates.

Donda, a recent signing by Maradona, netted all three goals for Al Wasl who charged back from 1-3 down at halftime to eventually equalise during their Emirates Cup fixture in the United Arab Emirates.

But an injury-time header from Bare denied Al Wasl and Maradona a draw.

Maradona also protested over Ricardo Oliveira’s third goal for Al Jazira, calling it offside.

“There was a penalty we should have had, which we didn’t get. And they had a goal they shouldn’t have. But as I said, in the second half, Jazira were not on the field,’’ he added.

Aside from Bare and Oliveira, Ibrahim Diaky and Matias Delgado also converted for Al Jazira, who is now coached by former Racing Genk mentor Franky Vercauteren.

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