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Ajman fight back to win 4-3 at Al Wahda

Ajman twice came from behind to take all three points away from the Al Nahyan Stadium in Abu Dhabi, beating Al Wahda 4-3 in Round 23 of the Etisalat Pro League. Three goals for the home side by Marcelinho, Papa Waigo and Srdan Andric were not enough as Ajman scored four thanks for a double from Boris Kabi and individual efforts by Driss Fettouhi and Waleed Ahmed. The victory temporarily moves Ajman up a place into 10th with 26 points, whilst Al Wahda stay 7th for the moment with 32 points.

Al Wahda’s strike force have been criticised for their misfiring form of late, but they started the game with clear intent to silence the doubters as Ajman goalkeeper Jaber Jasim was called into action to smother Papa Waigo’s effort as early as the 4th minute. Just two minutes later the hosts found their shooting boots and made the breakthrough, as Mohamed Al Shehhi’s lofted free kick was helped on by Adel Basulaiman for Marcelinho to complete a simple tap-in from close range, giving Al Wahda a 1-0 lead in the 6th minute. Their advantage didn’t last long though, as Ajman were back on level terms just six minutes later. A pinpoint cross was lofted in from the left by Moroccan midfielder Driss Fettouhi, and captain Boris Kabi rose highest in the area to power a header home making it 1-1 in the 12th minute, and scoring his 20th League goal of the season in the process. The visitors began to get a grip on the game after equalising, and in the 25th minute Driss Fettouhi;s shot took a deflection and bounced up awkwardly but Shehab Ahmed skied his follow-up effort over the bar from close range. Al Wahda’s attack force was reawakened instantaneously in the 27th minute as Papa Waigo’s cushioned header back to Marcelinho was hit strongly by his Brazilian strike partner, but the rasping shot cannoned off the crossbar. Seconds later the woodwork was rattled again as Badr Al Harthi’s shot hit the post after the Ajman goalkeeper got a hand to it, with the ball rebounding off the upright to go behind for a corner. But the visitors always looked threatening on the break and in the 34th minute they seized the lead as Boris Kabi bagged a first-half brace. Waleed Ahmed sent an inviting cross in from the left and the statuesque Kabi slid in to beat the keeper to the ball and make it 2-1 to Ajman. Five minutes later goalkeeper Jaber Jasim protected the lead by making a crucial double save from Papa Waigo, and the score remained 2-1 at the break.

Ajman were forced into a half-time change as goalkeeper Jaber Jasim was withdrawn due to injury and Najeeb Al Jasmi came on to deputise. The stand-in stopper was immediately called into action as Al Wahda upped the pressure in the area, and in the 49th minute the ball was in the back of the net as Papa Waigo headed home Mohamed Al Shehhi’s cross from the right to make it 2-2, scoring his eleventh League goal of the season. The momentum remained with the hosts and in the 62nd minute they were back in front as Croatian midfielder Srdan Andric chipped an exemplary right-footed finish into the goal to get Al Wahda’s noses back in front at 3-2. In the 75th minute Al Jasmi made a flying save to keep out Abdulla Jasem as Al Wahda looked to extend their advantage, but almost straight away Ajman once again pulled themselves back into the game through a splendid individual effort from Driss Fettouhi. The Moroccan attacking midfielder escaped the marking of Al Wahda’s Abdulla Saeed before cutting onto his left foot and planting a fine finish into the back of the net to level the scores at 3-3 in the 77th minute. Abdulwahab Abdulkader’s men were not content with the prospect of a point, however, and continued to stream forward in search of an away win. In the 83rd minute their wishes were granted as a cross from the right was side-footed in by Waleed Ahmed to give the visitors a 4-3 lead, sending the goalscorer and his captain Boris Kabi into a synchronised acrobatic flip celebration, and handing the three points to Ajman.