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Al Shabab outclass Al Ain 3-2 to capture their first Etisalat Cup title

His Highness Sheikh Hazza Bin Zayed Al Nahyan, The National Security Advisor, Vice Chairman of the Executive Council, and Chairman of the Abu Dhabi Sports Council, Chairman of Al Ain Club and Deputy Chairman of Al Ain Honorary Board attended the game; along with Mohammad Khalfan Al Rumaithi, Chairman of the UAE FA; Dr. Tariq Al Tayer, Chairman of the UFL; Salim Al Gamzi, Chairman of Al Shabab Club; along with other sporting dignitaries and over 8,000 spectators.

Al Shabab started strongly, making solid raids in the opening minutes and coming close to scoring on two occasions only five minutes into the match. But Al Ain's custodian Waleed Salim saved brilliantly to deny them the first points. Al Ain's defense demonstrated a shaky start, which encouraged Al Shabab to work hard and put more pressure on their opposition, but they couldn't find the back of the net. Al Ain recovered to make some good attempts with the help of their dynamic midfielder Shihab Ahmad, who demonstrated a lovely display of accurate passes to help his front liners reach their competitor's goal mouth many times. It was thanks to his handy work that Al Ain scored the first goal when he collected the ball on the midfield, stepped forward before passing it to his colleague Ali Al Wihaibi who moved quickly inside the box to switch the ball into the six yard area for Al Shabab's defender Essam Dhahi to slam it into his own net. This severe blunder affected Essam Dhahi's performance as he went on to commit a number of mistakes that could have cost his team more goals, but Al Ain did not benefit from these errors. Al Shabab tried hard to come back via Julio Cesar, Essa Obaid, Villanueva and Jociel Fer Da Silva (Ciel) but all their efforts could not help them to level the score thanks to a solid performance by Al Ain's defenders in the first half. The teams ended the first session with a 1-0 lead for Al Ain.

Al Shabab's coach Bonamego brought on Hassan Ibrahim after the break to replace his team mate Ali Mohammad. The two teams played a balanced game in the second half and Al Shabab looked the better side after creating a number of chances, but Al Ain players kept them from capitalizing on their continuous forays. Their striker Julio Cesar came close to score the equalizer, but his close-range perfect header went straight into the goalkeeper's hands five minutes into the second session. His colleague Essa Obaid found another sitter seven minutes later but his volley flew into the air.

Al Shabab went on a number of more attacks and their efforts yielded the equalizer in the 71st  minute when Al Ain's midfielder Ibrahima Kieta made an error at the midfield zone for Julio Cesar to collect the ball and put Jociel Ferreira Da Silva clear with only the goalkeeper to beat. He didn't make a mistake, sending the ball into the roof of the net to make it 1-1. Al Shabab intensified their efforts after this goal giving their contenders a hard time and they came close to driving the ball home on many occasions. Al Shabab controlled major parts of the second session and finally took the lead four minutes before time when Jociel Da Silva sent a pass to his teammate Julio Cesar who drove the ball home through the goalie's left side to make it 2-1.

Al Ain's coach Alexander Gallo brought on Juma'a Saeed from Ivory Coast to replace Brazilian striker Elias one minute from the official time. Al Ain fought strongly after conceding the second goal and the substitute Juma'a Saeed brought the game back to level when he received a pass in front of the goal mouth. He rounded up two defenders before sending the ball into the net one minute into additional time.

But in an extremely exciting finish to the game, Al Ain's dreams of an Etisalat Cup final were dashed when Jociel Da Silva netted the winner for Al Shabab off Julio Cesar's perfect pass two minutes later to make it 3-2 securing the result and the 2010/11 championship for Al Shabab.