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Bani Yas edge past Al Shabab 1-0 to reclaim 2nd spot

Bani Yas reclaimed second spot in the Etisalat Pro League with a 1-0 win over Al Shabab at the Bani Yas Stadium on Saturday evening courtesy of Mohammed Aboutrika’s first half stoppage-time goal. The rescheduled Round 14 win gives the home side 41 points after 20 matches, whilst Al Shabab remain in 7th with 30 points after falling further off the pace in the race for a top-four finish.

The match got off to a quiet start as both teams cautiously felt each other out in midfield, before settling into a rhythm after the twenty-minute mark. Al Shabab registered the first chance of note as the Brazilian Edgar saw a fine solo effort go just wide of the Bani Yas goal. In the 33rd minute Bani Yas stepped up their game as the Swedish international Christian Wilhelmsson saw his individual effort turned away by Al Shabab goalkeeper Salem Abdullah. Luiz Henrique hit a real cannonball of a shot from outside the area in the 36th minute and two minutes later the Brazilian Ciel missed an opportunity from a tight angle. Bani Yas finally found a way through as they took the lead during first-half stoppage time whe Yousef Jaber’s cross was struck from the left by Egyptian striker Mohammed Aboutrika to give the home side a 1-0 lead right on the stroke of half time.

Bani Yas continued to threaten as the second half got underway, but Christian Wilhelmsson was wasteful with his 61st-minute chance before being substituted with Josef Chovanec bringing on Haboush Saleh in his place. Al Shabab also made a change, bringing Dawoud Ali on for Essa Obaid in an attempt to claw something back from the game. In the 74th minute Sultan Al Ghaferi had a decent shot for Bani Yas from just outside the penalty area, and at the other end Ciel saw his effort rise over the crossbar. Australian Nick Carle replaced Fawaz Awana in the 78th minute as Bani Yas attempted to extend their lead, but the one goal was enough to secure all three points for the Sky Blues after ninety minutes.