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Al Wasl beat Emirates 3-0; Ajman force Bani Yas to a 1-1 draw

 

Dubai-based Al Wasl snatched their first three points following their deserved 3-0 win over Emirates in their second Etisalat Cup match played tonight at Rashid Stadium. It was the second successive defeat for the Emirates who played the game without their key players who are still in their external warm-up camp in Tunisia. They are currently staying at the bottom of the table and are yet to open their account. The winners scored their goals after the break as both teams were tied to a goalless draw by the end of the first half. Al Wasl controlled the game through the entire time but they lost a number of scoring chances.

Donda opened the score for Al Wasl only two minutes after the interval with a strong shot from the edge of the box that went straight into the right hand side of the goalkeeper Mohammad Saeed Juma'a. Al Wasl went on their attacking tactics, but could not find the back of the net after their rivals' defence spoiled all their attacks. After a series of forays, the winners' hard work yielded the second goal five minutes before the final whistle through Essa Ali. Edson collected the ball and ran down the right flank before switching it in front of the goal mouth, but it passed over the goalie to the opposite area and a defender tried to clear it away but it hit on his body and came towards Essa who slammed it home from inside the six yard area. Essa completed the rout off another ball switched also by Edson from the left flank in the 90th minute to end the game with a 3-0 victory for Al Wasl.

In the other match of the day played at the same time, Ajman forced the home team Bani Yas to a 1-1 draw. A late goal scored by Senegalese player Ibrahima Toure, helped the visiting team to come out with a valuable point to raise their tally to 4 while Bani Yas collected their first point in the competition.

The two teams demonstrated a poor display in the opening minutes as most of the work was concentrated on the midfield zone. But the home team came close to take the lead when the Senegalese Pro. Andre Senghor jumped high heading the ball that switched from the left flank, but it hit the cross bar and flew away only 15 minutes into play. It was the first and only dangerous chance in the first session. The home team missed today the efforts of their French striker Trezeguet as well as their four Olympic Team's players Amer Abdul Rahman, Mohammad Fawzi, Dhiyab Awana and Ahmad Ali, in addition to the two injured players Haboosh Saleh and Sultan Al Gafry. Bani Yas were the better side and in spite of their control of the game, they failed to score in the first session. Oliver from Ivory Coast missed a lovely sitter when his close-range volley rebound off the upright before being cleared by a defender only three minutes after the breather. Bani Yas continued their superiority over the visiting team and their dangerous front liner Senghor squandered a chance when he sent a strong shot from inside the box, but the goalkeeper Ali Rabei saved bravely in the 56th minute.

But his teammate Adnan Hussain came four minutes later to make their efforts a success when he capitalized on Jasim Ali's error and beat the goalie with a strong shot. Senghor missed another chance when his shot was blocked by Ajman's goalie in the 57th minute. His perfect header was also saved by the goalkeeper in the 68th minute. The home squad continued to threaten their opponents' goal but could not add another goal. Ajman did not lose hope as they went on creating a number of opportunities and their effort were rewarded three minutes into the four-minute injury time when Ibrahima Toure surprised the hosts with back-ward kick that beat the goalkeeper Mohammad Al Hamadi to secure his side a deserved valuable point.