UAE Professional League Committee - UAE Pro League Committee

Kalba outclass Al Shabab 2-1 to revive hopes in relegation battle

Kalba came from behind when they were one goal down to come out with a deserved 2-1 win over Al Shabab in their Etisalat Pro-League Round 18 crucial game played tonight at Kalba Stadium. The two teams played a balanced game making good efforts to snatch three points but it was the hosts squad who made their dreams come true.

Kalba raised their balance to 17 points to revive their hopes in their struggle to avoid relegation to first division. They are three points behind Dubai and one behind Al Ain who are sitting in 9^th and10^th positions with 20 and 18 points respectively. Al Shabab are still in third spot provisionally on 28 points but they have to wait till tomorrow to see the result of Al Wasl who are sitting in fourth spot and a win against leaders Al Jazira might take them one step forward forcing Al Shabab to slip down to replace them.

The visitors played 85 minutes with only ten players when the referee gave their midfielder Hassan Ibrahim marching orders only five minutes into the game for bad behaviour. Hassan butted Simon Piette of Kalba with his head only five minutes into play and the referee did not hesitate to show him the red card.

Simon was the first to find the back of the net in the 25^th minute but he failed to drive the ball home into the empty and open net. Julio Cesar missed a chance for Al Shabab when he was put clear with only the goalkeeper Mohammad Osman to beat in the 35^th minute.  Ellias De Oliveira Rosa "Kano" squandered a golden chance for Kalba off a cross ball switched by his teammate Abdullah Faraj who missed the ball and he himself went inside the net one minute later. Both teams made every bit of work to find the target but they couldn't after losing all the sitters that came their way ending the first session with a goalless draw.

Essa Obaid put the visiting team into the lead in the 72^nd minute with a nice header when Ciel switched the ball inside the six yard area for Essa to jump high sending the ball into the net despite of the goalkeeper's attempts to clear the ball away. But two minutes later, Ellias De Oliveira Rosa "Kano" levelled the score when Abdullah Faraj sent the ball inside the box and Al Shabab's goalie Hassan Al Shreif failed to save.  Ellias De Oliveira was again on target scoring the winner five minutes before the final whistle making it 2-1. Both teams made good efforts afterwards to add more goals but they lost all the chances.