Al Wahda, Al Dhafra share spoils; Kalba hold Al Nasr
Al Dhafra and Al Wahda played out a 1-1 draw at Al Nahyan Stadium in matchweek 8 of the Arabian Gulf League ater Yaseen Al Bakhit’s opener was canceled out by Paul-josé M’poku.
The match, held amid patriotic atmosphere, coinciding as it did with the UAE’S 49th National Day, saw action early on when Al Dhafra missed a goalscoring chance midway through the first half when Mikhail Rosheuvel’s low-driven shot went wide of Al Wahda goal.
Al Wahda’s response was quick as they threatened Al Dhafra on goal three minutes later ater the guests’ defence intercepted Mohamed Barqesh’s pass before it reached Henrique Luvannor.
Al Dhafra broke the deadlock three minutes before the break, following an impressive effort from Yaseen Al Bakhit, who launched a quick atack before exchanging the ball with Denílson inside the box, then tapping over the Al Wahda keeper Mohamed Al Shamsi.
The Clarets needed five minutes only to level the scoreline ater the restart, when M’poku fired a powerful freekick from the edge of the box that let the Al Dhafra keeper Khaled Al Senani helpless.
Al Senani denied Al Wahda from neting the winner four minutes from time, as he pulled off a fine save to block M’poku’s effort to wrap up the action at Al Nahyan Stadium.
Al Wahda and Al Dhafra remain winless for the second game in a row, as the Clarets sit fith on 14 points, while Al Dhafra are ninth on 11 points.
KALBA HOLD Al NASR 3-3: In the other
Tuesday’s match, visitors Al Nasr were forced to share the spoils in a thrilling 3-3 draw by Ittihad Kalba at the Itihad Kalba Club Stadium. The hosts opened the scoring in the 8th minute of the game through their Chilean forward Junior Fernandes.
The Tigers went into the half-time holding on to their one-goal lead. However, there was a flurry of action early in the second half. Sebastian Tagliabue equalised in the 47th minute before scoring another in the 55th minute to give his team the lead. It was Kalba’s Peniel Kokou Mlapa who restored parity for the hosts in the 57th minute. However, more goals were in store when Curacao forward Brandley Kuwas once again gave Al Nasr the lead by scoring in the 64th minute.
When it looked as if Al Nasr would run away winners, a last-gasp goal by Emirati midfielder Mansour Alblooshi saw Kalba snatching a welldeserved point.
By virtue of the draw, Al Nasr remain on third spot with 17 points from 8 matches while Kalba are in 7th with 13 points.
SHARJAH, SHABAB AL AHLI DRAW: Igor Coronado’s penalty was cancelled out by Yousef Jaber as Sharjah and Shabab Al Ahli played out a 1-1 draw at Sharjah Stadium on Monday in matchweek 8 of the Arabian Gulf League, held amid patriotic atmosphere as it coincides with the Commemoration Day and the UAE’S 49th National Day.
Just ater the 15-minute mark, Sharjah’s Igor Coronado fired a powerful effort that went inches wide. Few minutes later, Shabab Al Ahli missed a chance to break the deadlock when Ahmed Al Atas sent a close-rang effort over the goal.
It was the King who opened the scoring ater they were awarded a penalty that was brilliantly converted by Igor Coronado on the half-hour mark, as the Brazilian midfielder raised his goal tally to eight.
Shabab Al Ahli missed an opportunity to head into the break with a 1-1 draw, as Yousef Jaber’s header off a freekick was saved by Sharjah keeper Adel Al Hosani.
The start of the second half was similar to the end of the first one, as a header from Igor Jesus went inches above the goal.
On the other side of the pitch, Otabek Shukurov came close to doubling the scoreline ater he lobbed the ball over the keeper, only for his effort to go just above the goal on the one-hour mark.
It was Shabab Al Ahli, however, who found the back of the net as they levelled the scoreline in the 68th minute, thanks to Yousef Jaber’s lowdriven shot past Al Hosani.
This marked Sharjah’s second draw in a row, as they raised their tally to 20 points, while Shabab Al Ahli now have 13 points.
While Al Wahda were held by Al Dhafra
1-1 ater Yaseen Al Bakhit’s opener was canceled out by Al Wahda’s Paul-josé M’poku, Al Nasr were forced to share the spoils with Itihad Kalba in an exciting match that saw six goals scored