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Dubai 1-4 Bani Yas: Visitors turn on South American style

Bani Yas turned on the South American style as they registered a 4-1 away victory at Dubai in Round 3 of the Arabian Gulf League on Friday evening. Luis Fariña, Carlos Muñoz and Marcelinho all found the net for the visitors along with an Ali Al Dhaheri own goal, maintaining an unbeaten start in the League for Jorge Da Silva’s side.

Bani Yas exerted pressure on Dubai from the get-go, and the game got off to a feisty start with both sides refusing to shirk any challenges. Indeed it was the visitors who took an early lead in the 13th minute as Bani Yas’ two South American summer signings combined well in attack. Argentinian youngster Luis Fariña slid a ball through to Carlos Muñoz and the Chilean saw his chipped shot hit the crossbar, but Fariña had followed up his run and was in position to strike home the rebound with aplomb. Bani Yas, enjoying the majority of possession, were awarded a number of free kicks in promising areas and set-piece specialist Nawaf Mubarak forced a reactive save from Jamal Abdallah Ali with a curling effort in the 24th minute. Two minutes later Bani Yas doubled their lead in spectacular style as a fine individual effort from Carlos Muñoz made it 2-0. The Chilean playmaker cut onto his right foot and launched a curving drive past two Dubai defenders, beating the goalkeeper and nestling into the back of the net. Bruno Cesar had a number of decent attempts for Dubai and Dramane Traore tried an ambitious overhead kick from a corner in the 35th minute, but nothing troubled Mohsin Al Hashmi in the Bani Yas goal as the home side tried and failed to pull a goal back before half time.

Dubai began the second half in search of a way back into the game, with Bruno Cesar doing his best to try and find a way through a sea of Bani Yas bodies back in defense. Head coach Martin Rueda introduced Faisal Ali in place of Hassan Abdulrahman in the 56th minute, hoping that an early substitution could change the course of the game for the hosts. But the change did not have the desired effect as four minutes later Bani Yas widened the gap after a surging run from Luis Fariña found Nawaf Mubarak on the right, and the midfielder’s low cross in the box was bundled into the back of the net by Dubai’s Ali Al Dhaheri to make it 3-0 for the visitors. Dubai’s substitute Faisal Ali did manage to make an impact in the 68th minute, rising highest to head home from a Rami Yaslam corner despite Amer Abdulrahman’s attempt to clear on the line, reducing the deficit to 3-1. Dubai were buoyed by the goal and saw Bruno Cesar and Gilles Yapi-Yapo go close moments later, but Bani Yas soon delivered a sucker punch as substitute Marcelinho – on for Haboush Saleh in the 69th minute – scored with an emphatic finish on his debut for the club to make it 4-1 in the 78th minute.