Vieira happy with Sharjah’s turnaround

Jorvan Vieira was delighted with Sharjah’s 2-2 comeback at Al Ahli on Thursday night because it showed his club was ‘still alive’ despite their testing start to the season.

Grafite and Ahmed Khalil gave Al Ahli a 2-0 lead with goals on 10 and 39 minutes, but Sharjah’s Marcelinho fought back with a brace of headers on 61 and 71 minutes to share the spoils.

It’s only Sharjah’s eighth point from nine appearances in the Etisalat Pro League this season. They have drawn three times this season, but last week’s 1-1 tie with Dubai has been converted to a 3-0 loss because Sharjah were ruled to have fielded an ineligible player. They were fined Dh5,500 in the process but are understood to be appealing against the decision.

‘Difficult’ couple of months

Marking a difficult couple of months for the club, with coach Carlos Azenha leaving in pre-season and Valeriu Tita sacked after the first seven games, third coach Vieira now plans to stabilise the outfit after this latest result, which leaves them ninth in the table.

Having won the 2007 Asian Cup for underdogs Iraq and having guided minnows Ittihad Kalba to one of their best performances in the second half of last season, the ever-upbeat Vieira looks set to weave his magic again.

“I have to thank my players for the demonstration they gave today in this match because it sets an example to all. It showed everyone we have life, we are still alive and we are fighting to the end to pick up some points and improve our position in the table,” he said.

“In the first half we were not stable, we were very nervous and had a little less confidence. We could have tried to score after their first or second but we were simply less organised and because of confidence we didn’t play well.

“In the second half we controlled the situation and took a risk by putting three strikers up front. This pushed back the Al Ahli defence, prompted their midfield to go back to support and we then had more free space.

“Sharjah came into the second half a completely different team with more fighting spirit, more organisation and confidence than the first half. We could have scored three or four. Even if Al Ahli also looked dangerous on the counter, we took that risk to be more open.

Improved organisation

“We were circulating the ball much better. Of course we still made some silly mistakes, losing the ball through weak passes via easy balls. We can’t afford to make these mistakes. But most important is the improved organisation and the draw.

“I have to thank the backroom staff and all those behind me because I have been given a lot of support, so thanks to everyone. This is a team effort and I think we can go home happy. Everyone knows our situation before. I think we can come away with more confidence knowing that we are in the right way. In the next match we will be much better.”

Al Ahli coach Quique Sanches Flores, who in six games has only two wins, said: “Sharjah changing to three strikers made it difficult for us. We were prepared to win after the first half but in the second half we lost control in the midfield and didn’t have the same feeling as the first. We lost two chances to score a third and that proved decisive. The final score is not good for us.”

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