Sharjah pip Ajman; Al Wasl, Dibba share spoils
Sharjah:francisco Alcacer’s header was the difference for Sharjah in a 3-2 thrilling win over Ajman at Rashid Bin Saeed Stadium in Matchweek three of the ADNOC Pro League on Thursday.
The Oranges needed fourteen minutes to pose their first real threat on Sharjah keeper Darwish Mohammad, when Firas Ben Larbi curled a superb free kick from about 25 yards out, but his effort hit the post.
Ajman defender Soud Saeed’s own goal gave the hosts the lead when he converted a cross into his own net in the 35th minute.
Only two minutes before the two teams headed to the dressing rooms for the break, Ajman leveled the scoring ater a brilliant one-two between M Ben Alarbi and Prestige Mboungou ended with the later dribbling the keeper and sloting the ball into the empty net.
Mboungou became the first ever Congolese player to hit the back of the net in the ADNOC Pro League.
Only two minutes ater the break, Ben Alarbi gave the lead for Ajman for the first time in the match ater he met Waleed Azaro’s cross with a clinical finish into the net.
Five minutes ater the hour mark, Luan Pereira leveled the scoring again when his first atempt from inside the box was saved by Ajman goalkeeper Ali Al Hosani, and he poked the rebound into the net.
In the 71st minute, Sharjah were awarded a penalty ater the ball hit the hand of defender Soud Saeed inside the box.
Francisco Alcacer atempted to tuck the ball in the botom corner, but the goalkeeper got down quickly to make a fine save and sent the ball to a corner kick.
Ater he watched his effort being blocked by Al Hosani, Alcacer met Miralem Pjanic’s cross from a corner with a powerful header into the back of the net, sealing a dramatic win for Sharjah.
AL WASL, DIBBA PLAY DRAW: Al Wasl and Dibba played out a 1-1 draw at Zabeel Stadium. The visitors broke the deadlock in the 56th minute when Khalid Abdullah met Joey Sleegers’ superb cross with a powerful header that nestled into the botom corner of the net.
Twelve minutes ater the hour mark, the hosts were awarded a penalty ater Fabio De Lima was brought down inside the box by Rashed Mohamed, prompting the referee to point to the spot. Fabio De Lima stepped up and converted it into the botom corner to make it 1-1.
Al Wasl are now in the third spot with five points, while Dibba sit 12th with just one point.
Meanwhile, the games continue on Friday with three fixtures, two of which will take place at 17:45, while the third and last match of the day will be held at 20:30.
The second day of matchweek 3 kicks off with Bani Yas and Al Bataeh facing off at Bani Yas Stadium.
It will be the first encounter between the two clubs in the ADNOC Pro League as the two teams aim to return to the winning ways ater losing their games in matchweek 2.