News Center

Dubai and Al Dhafra share points with a 2-2 draw

Dubai and Al Dhafra have retained their previous 10th and 8th positions respectively in the Etisalat Pro League and shared the points of their round 21 match played this evening at Dubai Sports & Cultural Club Stadium. The visiting team Al Dhafra are 8th 0n 27 points whilst the hosts Dubai are sitting in 10th spot with a tally of 23 points.

The match started calmly with both squads failing to create dangerous attacks, making weak attempts that were easily spoiled by the defenders. The technical performance of the two teams was male, passive and below par and most of it was concentrated at the midfield zone with the exception of some attacks that missed the target.

 The first real opportunity came in the 27thth minute which was exploited by Dubai striker Hassan Abdulrahman who fired a fierce volley and the goalkeeper tried every bit of effort to control it but it hit the cross bar for a goal kick. Faisal Ali was almost to find the back of the net a few minutes later but his perfect header also shaved the top of the crossbar in the 35th minute. Dubai’s hard work and continuous pressure was soon rewarded when Rami Yaslam pounced on a loose ball that went straight into the right hand corner giving his side a first session 1-0 lead.

The two teams entered to the pitch with different ambitions as Dubai’s players endeavored to double their advantage while their opponents worked hard to level the score. The visiting squad made continuous attacks and built up a handful of scoring chances that forced their rivals to retreat back to defend their narrow lead but did not give up under pressure. Dubai’s French coach Rene Marsiglia made a compulsory substitution when he pulled off Richard Porta due to injury and brought on Mohammad Ibrahim in the 54th minute. His compatriot Al Dhafra’s coach Laurent Banide also fielded on Amara Diane to substitute Ali Al Hamadi five minutes later. Rodrigo Carica of Dubai also came in the 69th minute in place of his colleague Faisal Khalil. 

Al Dhafra continued their unstoppable pressure for Makhete Diop to pull one back with a powerful header off the ball switched by Abdulrahim Jama’a in front of the goal mouth to make it 1-1 in the 78th minute. Dubai started immediately afterwards searching for the winner and their efforts were paid dividends when Rami Yaslam headed home his second personal goal to put his team 2-1 up two minutes to time. But Makhete Diop did not wait long before bringing the game into parity three minutes into injury time to end the game with a 2-2 draw.