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Six important matches in the Etisalat Cup third round

Six important games of Etisalat Cup 2012-2013 third round are due to kick off on Sunday and Monday October 14 and 15 when    Al Dhafra will host Ittihad Kalba on next Sunday at Zayed City in the Western Region, kick off at 5:20pm. The hosts are currently staying on top of the table on goal difference, leading Group “B” with 3 points, the same balance of both Al Wasl and Al Jazira while Kalba are yet to open their account following a 4-2 loss to Al Wasl in their lone first round encounter. Al Dhafra depend in this game on the brilliant display they demonstrated in their second week match against Al Wasl especially that shown by Bandar Al Ahbabi, Makhete Diop and Amara Diane. But Kalba will face their rivals under the slogan "To be or not to be" where an additional loss means reducing hopes to qualify , but a win will boost the morale of the team’s players before going into the league fourth round, noting that Kalba had sacked their coach Dragan and contracted Tunisian coach Lotfi Al El Benzarti after losing to Al Wahda 6-0 in the league third round at home.

In the same day, defending Champions Al Ahli, who have collected a single point so far, will play on their home ground when they host their Group “C” leaders Ajman with 3 points at 5:10pm.

At the end of the first day games, Al Ain will face their counterparts Al Wahda at Tahnoun bin Mohammed Stadium in Qattara at 08:00 pm in a thrilling and exciting Group “A” derby match despite of the absence of the duo teams’ international players. Al Wahda are leaders of this group with 6 points following two consecutive wins over Al Nasr 3-0 and Al Shaab 6 -1 while Al Ain have 3 points from one game after beating Dubai 4-2.

In the second day of the third round, Dibba Al Fujairah will host their rivals Al Shabab at Khalifa bin Zayed Stadium in Al Ain City at 05:10 pm. Dibba Al Fujairah are still looking for the first point after losing to Ajman in the first round, while Al Shabab have one point following a draw with Al Ahli in the same round.

Al Nasr will meet Al Shaab at Sharjah Stadium at 05:10 pm, within Group “A” matches. Both teams are yet to open their account as they did not collect any point so far. Al Nasr lost to Al Wahda in the first round, and Al Shaab lost twice in a row to Dubai in the first round and to Al Wahda in the second week.

At the end of the Etisalat Cup third week matches, which will stop for a month, Al Jazira will host their counterparts Al Wasl at Mohammed Bin Zayed Stadium in Abu Dhabi, within Group ”B” matches in a crucial game where both teams are looking for achieving a positive result . The "Formula" depend on their foreign and young players who participated in the first game against Bani Yas, and proved they don’t get affected by the absence of international elements, both in the National Senior and Youth teams. It seems that Al Wasl might suffer psychologically after their 4-0 loss to Al Dhafra at their stadium and in front of their fans in the second round.