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Dubai’s winless run continues with 2-1 loss at Ajman

Dubai continued on their dismal run of form as they were downed 2-1 away at Ajman on Saturday evening in Round 20 of the Etisalat Pro League. Despite rallying late and scoring a consolation goal, Rene Marsiglia’s men were unable to complete a fight-back and left the Rashid bin Saeed Stadium empty handed, remaining on 19 points. Ajman, who entered the game on the same points total and one place below their opponents, leapfrogged Dubai into 10th position with the win and now have 22 points.

Fresh of the back of their Etisalat Cup semi-final success, the first half was controlled by Ajman, who entered the game in high spirits. Dubai’s leaky defense struggled to negate the threat of Boris Kabi, Founeke Sy, Fawzi Bashir and Driss Fettouhi, with their centre-back pairing of Yousif Mohamed and Kayed Abdulla often being called on to make important interceptions. In the 19th minute the visitors’ back line was breached by Founeke Sy, as the tall striker got his head to a long ball, which bounced in front of the goalkeeper before nestling into the back of the net to give Ajman a 1-0 lead, and an enthusiastic dancing celebration by Founeke Sy and Driss Fettouhi ensued. Following his late penalty-saving heroics earlier in the week, Ajman’s second-choice goalkeeper Jaber Jasim was called into action in the 24th minute as he parried a well-struck shot from Hassan Abdelrahman, who then hit the rebound over the crossbar. Dubai’s misery was compounded in the 27th minute when head coach Rene Marsiglia was forced to replace the injured striker Richard Porta with Mohamed Al Zaabi, with Porta leaving the field visibly disappointed that he was not fit to continue. Ajman continued to dominate going forward, registering 11 attacks to Dubai’s 3 by the half-hour mark, as Founeke Sy continued to call Dubai goalkeeper Yousuf Ahmed into action. In the 38th minute Sy was denied a clear shot on goal by a superb last-ditch tackle from Dubai’s Yousif Mohamed, and five minutes later Hassan Abdelrahman again registered a shot on goal for the visitors, but the first half ended with Ajman possessing a 1-0 advantage.

After the restart Ajman made an attempt to double their lead as Ali Khamis saw his 51st minute shot skim just past the post. Dubai managed to sustain more pressure in attack than they had done in the first half, with Ajman’s slender lead starting to look fragile until captain Boris Kabi doubled their advantage in the 70th minute. Founeke Sy turned provider as he lofted a cross in from the right-hand side, and Kabi rose above Dubai defender Mohamed Ali to power a header home and make it 2-0. Just five minutes later the importance of Ajman’s second goal became apparent when Dubai finally found a way through. Waleed Khaled held the ball up well before releasing Magrao, whose perfectly timed run expertly beat the offside trap, enabling the Brazilian to finish past Jaber Jasim and give Dubai a lifeline in the game at 2-1 in the 75th minute. Ajman, keen not to let their lead slip, went in search of a third goal to sure up the win but a combination of the offside flag, some desperate defending and excellent reaction saves from Yousuf Ahmed kept the home side at bay. Boris Kabi thought he had sealed the victory during the five added minutes of injury time but he sent his shot straight into the arms of the keeper. Driss Fettouhi’s late free kick whistled just past the post after a fingertip save from Yousuf Ahmed’s right glove, and the game finished 2-1 to the home side.