TEHRAN - Al Wasl staged a thrilling comeback to defeat Al Ain 3–2 after trailing by two unanswered goals. The match took place on Saturday evening at Zabeel Stadium during the opening round of the Abu Dhabi Islamic Bank (ADIB) Cup.
Giorgos Giakoumakis surprised the hosts with an early goal for Al Ain in the opening minute. He then doubled his team’s lead in the 20th minute, giving Al Ain a comfortable advantage heading into the break.
Al-Wasl narrowed the deficit before the break after being awarded a penalty in the 41st minute, which Iranian player Mehdi Taremi converted into a goal that brought his team back into the match.
Al Wasl continued to press after the start of the second half. Siaka Sidibé managed to equalize in the 58th minute, bringing the match back to square one.
In the 82nd minute, Al Wasl completed their comeback when Adryelson Silva scored the winning goal with a header, connecting with a cross from Sergio Pereira.
Al Wasl held onto their lead until the final whistle, securing their first three points of the tournament, while Al Ain began their campaign with a loss.