Mohamed Abou-Treika struck in the fifth minute of stoppage time in Al Shamkha to hand Bani Yas a 2-0 win over Najran and book their place in the GCC Champions League final.

The semi-final looked destined to be decided by a penalty shoot-out before the Egyptian international picked up a pass from Haboush Saleh inside the area, turned two Saudi defenders inside before pulling the ball back onto his right foot and bend it into the far corner.

Trailing by a goal from the first leg in Saudi Arabia last Wednesday, Bani Yas levelled the tie in the first half as Andre Senghor plucked Abou-Treika’s long ball out of the sky before firing home.

Najran’s Hamza Al Dardour and Wael Ayan missed gilt-edged chances that would have put their side through to the final.

Only Al Dardour will know how he failed to find the net in the 71st minute as he nudged the ball past the onrushing Mohammad Ghuloom, only to scuff his shot into the Bani Yas keeper’s body and let go the opportunity to level the scores.

As it was the home side rode their luck and made the most of the five minutes which had been added on following a head injury to Ghuloom that needed extensive treatment.

Their Egyptian loan star was the hero as he curled the ball delicately into the far corner to send Bani Yas to their first continental final.

Victory also means the hosts became the fifth UAE side in four years to reach the final of the regional competition, and they will face either Al Khor or Al Kharitiyath, who play the second leg of their semi-final on Thursday night.

Zidane-esque

Abou-Treika’s stunning winner has drawn comparisons with this effort from Zinedine Zidane for Real Madrid against Deportivo back in 2002. We’ll leave you to decide which one was better.

 

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