News Center

Al Shaab outclass Ajman 2-1 in fight for survival

Al Shaab came from behind when they were one goal down to outclass their rivals Ajman 2-1 in the Etisalat Pro League round 21 game played tonight at Khaled bin Mohamed Stadium in Sharjah. Boris Kabi put the losers 1-0 up before the break but Michael Laurent replied with a brace to help his team snatch three valuable points taking their tally to 17 points in 12th position, five points behind Ajman and three ahead of second from the bottom Dibba Al Fujairah.

The two teams demonstrated a tremendous and exciting performance with a virtual superiority for Ajman who capitalized on the series of blunders committed by Al Shaab’s defenders to put their rivals under pressure. Ajman came close to scoring in many occasions had not for the brilliant display shown by the hosts’ goalkeeper Mutaz Abdullah. They were the first to find the target only ten minutes into play when the unmarked Boris Kabi headed the ball home off the corner kick sent by Fawzi Basheir. The two sides exerted more efforts afterwards and continued their attacks but their strikers were guilty after squandering all the sitters that came their way. Ajman’s attacker Founeke Sy tested his luck with a close-range shot from inside the six yard area but it rebounded off the cross bar in the 30th minute for a defender to divert it to a corner kick. Al Shaab’s custodian Mutaz Abdullah made a brilliant save to deny Boris Kabi who tried to drive the ball into the net one minute before half time. Ajman’s goalkeeper Jabir Jasim also made a similar save in the last minute when Michael Laurent’s volley went into his hands to finish the first half with a solitary goal lead for Ajman.

The performance of the two teams in the second session was balanced but in lack of real scoring chances despite of the hard work exerted by the players. The 60th minute saw Al Shaab leveling the scores through Michael Laurent who launched a strong shot from inside the box to make it 1-1. Inspired by this goal, Al Shaab’s enthusiastic players took control of the game trying to score the winner and snatch full points.  Their great efforts soon yielded the second goal when Hassan Maatouk sent a through pass to Michael Laurent who cut his way straight ahead before sending a rocket-like volley that beat the goalkeeper scoring the winner in the 68th minute and despite of the hard work shown by Ajman’s players, but Al Shaab tightened their grib on the game up to the final whistle to snatch three valuable points that would boost their morals in the forthcoming matches.