Shabab Al Ahli prevail over Fujairah; Kalba stun Al Wasl
DUBAI: Salmin Khamis scored late to snatch all three points for Shabab Al Ahli as they defeated Fujairah 1-0, at Fujairah Stadium in matchweek 13 of the Arabian Gulf League.
The first real threat came in the 29th minute when Shabab Al Ahli’s Mauro Diaz received the ball inside the box, but his right-footed effort was brilliantly saved by Saleh Aimesmari.
Shabab Al Ahli came knocking Fujairah’s doors again in the 47th minute, as Diaz squared the ball to Ahmed Al Junaibi, whose left-footed shot went just wide off the left post from a close range.
Around the one-hour mark, Luvannor Silva unleashed a powerful freekick shot from the edge of the box, however, Aimesmari put an excellent save to deny the visitors the opening goal.
Just seconds before the full-time whistle, Salmin netted the winning goal for Shabab Al Ahli. The number 2 defender converted Silva’s crossed freekick from the right flank with a well-placed flying header.
After the game, Fujairah sit 11th with just 13 points from 13 matches.
SIO STARS
Super sub Giovanni Sio scored and assisted as Ittihad Kalba defeated Al Wasl 3-1 at Kalba Union Sports and Cultural Club Stadium.
Al Wasl started on the front foot, as they took the lead in the 29th minute, through Kalba’s Hamad Al Hammadi who converted Vinicius Lima’s crossed freekick into the back of his own net.
Al Wasl continued to push forward, when Caio Correa wasted a glorious open goal chance from a close range in the 42nd minute, after Fabio Lima’s initial header cannoned off the right post to reach the Brazilian.
Just three minutes later, Lima controlled the ball just after the halfway line. However, the number 10 forward was unlucky once again as his powerful left-footed strike hit the post after a great solo run.
Ten minutes into the second half, Hassan Khamis advanced up the right flank and sent a well-placed cross inside the penalty area, that was acrobatically converted by Myke Ramos with a clever half-volley, leveling things up for the hosts.
Ramos doubled his tally in the 70th minute, after Sio overpowered the Cheetahs’ Salem Al Azizi to take the ball, and squared it to Ramos, whose composed finish crept past Yousif Al Zaabi.
Super sub Sio added the third for his side in the dying moments of the game, as his left-footed curler nestled in the back of Al Zaabi’s net, giving Kalba a two-goal lead.
Kalba ended the first half of the season in eighth place with 18 points. Meanwhile, Al Wasl suffered their eighth defeat of the season to occupy the 12th position with just 11 points.
AL JAZIRA BEAT AL NASR
Al Jazira completed an impressive comeback to defeat Al Nasr 3-1 at Mohammad Bin Zayed Stadium.
Al Jazira threatened Al Nasr in the 16th minute, when Khalfan Al Shamsi cut inside from the right wing. The midfielder’s left-footed low strike cannoned off the far post to deny the home side the opening goal.
The Pride of Abu Dhabi were brought down to ten men in the 36th minute, after Kahlifa Al Hammadi got sent off for his challenge on Marcos Nascimento.
The Blues responded in the 38th minute through Yohan Cabaye, whose powerful freekick shot from the edge of the box hit the crossbar to reach Alvaro Negredo, who failed to convert from the rebound.
Just ten minutes into the second half, Al Nasr broke the deadlock through an own goal by Fares Al Saadi, as he slotted Nascimento’s cross into the back of his own net.
Al Nasr’s Mohamed Al Shimmari was shown a red card in the 78th minute, after he scuffled with Ali Al Hajeri near the penalty area.
Leonardo Pereira converted the freekick into Ibrahim Al Balooshi’s top corner, leveling things up for the hosts.