Al Ain on the verge of ADIB Cup final with victory over Al Nasr
In a one-sided first-leg affair, Al Ain edged closer to reaching the ADIB Cup’s final ater thrashing Al Nasr 4-1 at Hazza Bin Zayed Stadium on Wednesday.
Ater a goalless draw in the first half, the hosts started the second half as a completely different team when Andrii Yarmolenko found the breakthrough a minute before the hourmark. The Ukrainian winger opened the scoring from the spot ater stepping up and sending the goalkeeper the wrong way.
Matias Palacios cemented his side’s lead with a curling effort from inside the box nine minutes ater the hour mark.
Soufian Rahimi turned from a provider to a scorer to fire a spectacular first-time volley into the top corner of the net.
Adel Taarabt reduced the deficit when he capitalized on an error from goalkeeper Khalid Eisa to find it easy and drill the ball into an empty net.
The Moroccan midfielder grabbed his brace ater pouncing on a mistake from Tozé as he cut inside the penalty area before sloting the ball into the botom corner to make it 4-1. The second leg will take place at Al Maktoum Stadium on Sunday.
Meanwhile, Matar Al Tayer, the Deputy Chairman of Dubai Sports Council (DSC), received the delegation of Shabab Al Ahli Club, the champion of Pro League 2022-2023, which comprised representatives from the Club’s Board of Directors and some of the team’s prominent players.
Al Tayer congratulated Shabab Al-ahli Club for winning of this title -- the 8th in the Club’s history since the launch of the UAE Football League competition, and the 4th since the implementation of the Pro League in the State.
He confirmed that this achievement reflects the wise leadership & proper directives of Sheikh Hamdan Bin Mohammed Bin Rashid Al Maktoum, the Crown Prince of Dubai and Chairman of the Executive Council / Sheikh Maktoum Bin Mohammed Bin Rashid Al-maktoum, the Vice Prime Minister, Minister of Finance and First Deputy Ruler of Dubai / Sheikh Ahmed Bin Mohammed Bin Rashid Al-maktoum, the Second Deputy Ruler of Dubai and Board Chairman of the Club / Sheikh Mansoor Bin Mohammed Bin Rashid Al Maktoum, the Chairman of DSC.
He explained that it is according to Their Highnesses’ proper directives & wise leadership, Shabab Al-ahli Club has atained excellence & gained titles.
He also referred to the hard efforts exerted by Khalifa Saeed Sulaiman, the Board Member of the Club, to implement these directives, besides his eminent role toward the ideal nomination of technical & administrative staff and players.
Al Tayer praised the teamwork & the successful system of work, followed by the Club’s