Ajman stun Al Nasr 1-0 in AGL opener
Thiam scores on debut while Sharjah thrash Al Dhafra
Senegalese striker Mame Baba Thiam scored on his Ajman debut to deny Al Nasr 1-0 away in their Arabian Gulf League opener at Al Shabab Stadium in Al Mamza yesterday.
A poor clearance at the back by Al Nasr’s Khalifa Mubarak allowed Ajman’s Waleed Abdullah to run in from the wing and cut the ball back to Thiam, who drilled his opener low past keeper Mohammad Yousuf on 13 minutes. Yohan Cabaye could have equalised before the half-hour, but his effort after being thread through by Marquinhos Gabriel was struck straight at Ajman’s shot-stopper Ali Mohammad.
A harsh penalty was initially called in Al Nasr’s favour on 35 minutes when Ahmad Ebrahim’s cross hit Mohammad Yaqoub’s shoulder. However, upon review with the Video Assistant Refereeing (VAR) system, referee Adel Al Naqbi decided to overrule his own decision.
Two massive chances before the break then saw Al Nasr’s Samuel Rosa hit the post with a header from a corner, and Cabaye’s goal bound long shot was disallowed after it took a slight deflection off Iury Lirio, who had strayed just offside. Cabaye again came close for Al Nasr after the hour, when Khamis’ first effort chasing up from a free-kick into the box came off a defender, before Cabaye’s follow-up was well kept out by the keeper.
Not the right start
Thiam’s effort fed through from a pass by Hassan Abdul Rahman with five minutes to spare was also denied by Al Nasr’s keeper, while Khalifa Mubarak’s long shot was tipped over the bar by the keeper up the other end just before the whistle.
This is not the start to the season Al Nasr coach Ivan Jovanovic would have wanted, having heralded his summer overhaul of the squad and stated his intent to compete across all competitions this season in Wednesday’s prematch conference.
Al Nasr finished fourth last season, while Ajman came eighth, meaning this result was somewhat unexpected especially with it being technically considered a home tie for the Blue Wave.
Jovanovic had said the stadium disruption, intense heat and the time it would take for his new signings to bed in might be a stumbling block at first and his suspicions were ultimately proven correct in this shock opening defeat.
In yesterday’s other early game Sharjah beat Al Dhafra 4-0 away.