Maradona's Al Wasl humiliated at home

Ajman climbed into seventh in the Pro-League standings on Wednesday night following an upset 4-2 victory over Diego Maradona’s Al Wasl at the Zabeel Stadium. The damaging defeat came on the same day Maradona was told by the club’s bosses to effectively get on with his job following his threat to quit if he wasn’t given more financial backing. Marwan bin Bayat, the Chairman of Al Wasl Football Company, said: “He hasn’t said anything to me directly and we’ve told him to follow procedures and to put his requirements down on paper for next season and that we will discuss things with him.” He added: “We’ve asked him to focus on the technical aspects of the club rather than the financial issues, and it’s always a matter of trying to keep Maradona happy.” It all added up to a disappointing day for Maradona. Al Wasl broke the deadlock in the sixth minute when Juan Manuel Olivera chipped over Ajman goalkeeper Ali Mesmari after being released by Mariano Donda. Their lead lasted 14 minutes as Darwish Ahmed headed Salem Obaid’s long throw into his own net. The home side was then made to pay for not capitalising on its chances when out of nowhere Ajman took the lead through Boris Kabi, who blasted home Hassan Maatouk’s low cross from the right, in the 24th. It got worse for Al Wasl after the break as Tia Oliver collected a lovely pass on the edge of the area, worked it between defender Mubarak Hassan’s legs and then slotted under substitute goalkeeper Ali Al Amir.   Olivera completed his brace 12 minutes from the end, converting the penalty awarded for a foul on Donda, but Ajman’s two goal cushion was restored in the 86th by Waleed Ahmed Hassan.