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Al Nasr 1-2 Ajman: Cup holders begin title defense with win

Ajman began their title defense with a 2-1 win over Al Nasr in their first UAE League Cup game at the Al Maktoum Stadium in Dubai on Wednesday night. Ibrahima Toure marked his debut Al Nasr appearance by getting on the scoresheet before his strike was cancelled out by Simon Feindouno opening his Ajman account, but it was club captain Boris Kabi who nicked a late winner for the holders. The result gives Abdulwahab Abdulkader’s side 3 points in Group B.

The first half was largely a story of patient build-up play, with both teams determined to play attractive football on the floor. The opening twenty minutes was without any clear-cut chances, but in the 22nd minute Al Nasr announced their first threat as a dangerous Hassan Ameen corner was caught on the foot of Yunus Ahmad, but there was no one in the box to pick up his pass. Seven minutes later, Ajman captain Boris Kabi glanced a header just wide at the other end as Ajman reminded the hosts of their athleticism on the break. New Al Nasr head coach Ivan Jovanovic was forced into an early substitution on the half-hour mark as Yunus Ahmad was stretchered off and replaced by Jamal Ibrahim, but the change didn’t negatively affect Al Nasr as they were soon to take the lead. Indeed it was the substitute Jamal Ibrahim who was felled 30 yards centrally from goal to gain a free-kick for his team, which captain Leo Lima lofted into the left-hand side of the area straight onto the head of Ibrahima Toure. Al Nasr’s new summer signing from AS Monaco needed no invitation as he calmly converted his header to put Al Nasr 1-0 up in the 39th minute of his debut. Hungry for a second, Toure again showed his skills as he flashed a shot across the face of goal, which was tipped behind for a corner by Ali Firooz in the Ajman goal on the stroke of half time.

Ajman, current holders of the Cup title, came out with more cutting edge after the break and in the 49th minute Waleed Ahmed almost turned a cross from Adil Salem home. Just a minute later and the visitors were back on level terms, with Simon Feindouno hitting a right-footed shot beyond Yousif Abdulla to mark his debut with an equalising goal. On the hour mark, Yousif Abdulla stayed strong as he came out of his goal to deny a marauding Ajman captain Boris Kabi. The Ivorian striker had the ball in the back of the net two minutes later but his fine finish was ruled out for offside. In the 67th minute the action moved to the other end of the pitch when the impressive Ibrahima Toure broke away and did all the hard work, only to see his final shot saved bravely by Ali Firooz. In the 71st minute, Al Nasr substitute Hassan Mohammed showed an impressive turn of pace to run onto a long ball, controlling with his first touch before hitting a rasping right-footed shot that was tipped onto the crossbar and out for a corner by Ajman’s goalkeeper. Al Nasr again could’ve got their noses in front when Lima’s 77th minute free kick into the box took an awkward bounce in front of Ali Firooz, catching the ‘keeper off-guard, but he managed to punch behind for a corner. In the 86th minute it was the visitors who came from behind to take the lead as Boris Kabi headed home Waleed Ahmed’s free kick. Al Nasr almost snatched an injury time equaliser when another Leo Lima free kick forced Ali Firooz into action, but Ajman held on to take victory.