Local Club Faces Rival in Friendly Tournament Final

Al Wahda secured their spot in the final of their own friendly tournament after beating Lebanese club Al Najma 2-0 at Al Nahyan Stadium. They'll face another Lebanese team, Al Ansar, in tomorrow's final after the visitors also advanced with a 1-0 win over Bani Yas.

The tournament, which kicked off two days ago, is giving teams a chance to stay sharp during the international break. Al Wahda's Portuguese coach José Morais used the match to test different tactical approaches and give his backup players valuable minutes on the pitch.

Al Wahda's goals came at crucial moments. Ibrahima Diarra opened the scoring right before halftime in the 45th minute, then Mansour Barghash sealed the win with a goal in the 90th minute. The timing shows how Morais has his team finishing strong in both halves.

Al Ansar earned their final spot earlier with a narrow 1-0 victory over UAE side Bani Yas. Khalid Al Hajjar scored the only goal in the 41st minute to send his team through.

These friendly tournaments during international breaks are becoming more common as clubs look for competitive matches when their national team players are away. For Al Wahda, hosting gives them home advantage while maintaining match fitness. The Lebanese clubs get valuable experience playing in the UAE, which could help them in regional competitions.

Tomorrow's final will pit Al Wahda's home crowd support against Al Ansar's momentum from their semifinal win. Both teams have shown they can grind out results with late goals and solid defending.