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Dubai 0-1 Al Ahli: Late winner at the Dubai Stadium

Al Ahli snatched a last-gasp winner against Dubai to take all three points from the Dubai Stadium in Round One of the 2013/14 Arabian Gulf League on Saturday night. An injury time free-kick from Ahmad Khalil was enough to get Al Ahli’s League campaign off to a winning start after they were held by a determined Dubai side for the majority of the game.

In a goalless first half of few clear opportunities, it was Al Ahli who shaded the chances as Grafite forced a good save from Dubai’s goalkeeper Jamal Abdallah just minutes after Ismaeel Al Hammadi had a goal ruled out for offside. In the 36th minute Al Ahli defender Basheer Saeed chose power over precision as he flashed a left-footed shot wide from an Al Hammadi corner, and Grafite later missed the target with a looping header.

With Azooz Sanqour replaced at half time due to injury, Cosmin brought on Humaid Abbas to play at right-back in an enforced change. Al Ahli continued to enjoy plenty of corners but were unable to find that final ball. In the 51st minute Luis Jiminez got himself into a good position but skewed his shot horribly wide, and soon Cosmin decided to make an attacking change by bringing on UAE national team striker Ahmad Khalil in hope of making a breakthrough. Dubai showed flashes of promise with Bruno Cesar, Andre Alves and Rami Yaslam making positive moves forward, but like their opponents, they couldn’t find that killer instinct in front of goal. In a final attacking change, Cosmin added tricky winger Adnan Hussain to the fray to replace centre-back Yousif Al Sayed as the Romanian head coach went for the jugular in search of three points. Bruno Cesar smashed a strike into the side-netting for Dubai before Al Ahli’s abundance of attackers streamed upfield with Ahmad Khalil’s shot whistling just wide of the post. In the 90th minute Al Ahli fans were leaping out of their seats as young UAE midfielder Majed Hassan launched a superb strike from outside the area but his piledriver cannoned off the underside of the crossbar, but moments later the Ahlawi faithful were given a real reason to cheer. A free kick awarded just outside the area was perfectly placed by the right-foot of Ahmad Khalil to secure all three points for Al Ahli right at the death.