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Al Ahli host Al Jazira; Al Nasr face Al Wasl in second round Dubai derby

Thrilling matches are likely to be played in Etisalat Pro League 2012- 2013 second round as the five clubs (Al Ain – Al Jazira – Bani Yas – Al Wahda – Ittihad Kalba) who lost their opening games, will endeavour to compensate and come up with their normal display in order to be on the right track. Four games will be held on Friday, September 28 between Ajman – Al Ain, Al Shaab – Dubai, Bani Yas – Ittihad Kalba and Al Ahli – Al Jazira and the remaining three matches of this round will take place the following day where Al Wahda face Al Shabab, Dibba Al Fujairah play Al Dhafra and Al Nasr tackle it out against Al Wasl in Dubai derby.

Ajman will host their rivals Al Ain in the first match at 5:25pm. The visiting team lost their opening encounter 3-6 to Al Ahli whereas the home squad were tied to a 1-1 draw against Al Dhafra and they will try to benefit of playing at their home ground in front of their fans. The match might see the comeback of some of Al Ain players to start the game like Hilal Saeed and Ali Al Wihaibi who were just recovering from injury.

In the other matches of the same day, Al Shaab will take on Dubai at Sharjah Stadium at the same above-mention time in a possible stint to keep on their league leadership. The Lebanese pro. Hassan Maatooq who moved from Emirates Club might be in Al Shaab’s line up. Dubai have a single point following their goalless draw against Dibba Al Fujairah. 

The “knights” and the “Formula” in a big match

The first round losers Bani Yas and Kalba will meet at Al Shamkha Stadium, kick off at 8:15pm. The hosts will miss the efforts of their Egyptian player Mohammed Zidane due to injury. Both teams are seeking to compensate their first week loss.

Al Ahli will face Al Jazira at Rashid Stadium at 8:15pm with high morals after beating defending champions Al Ain in the first round. Al Jazira also lost to Al Nasr 1-2 in the last three minutes. Al Ahli will depend in the first day concluding game on the force of their professional players like Brazilian Graffiti who scored a super hat-trick, Chilean Jimenez, Emana from Cameron and Lebanese defender Yousuf Mohammed.

Al Wahda host Al Shabab

The matches of the second round will be completed on Saturday, September 29 where Al Wahda are to face their rivals Al Shabab in one of the strongest games at Al Nahyan Stadium, kick off at 5:30pm.  The home team will seek to compensate their 1-4 loss to Al Wasl and their coach might field Brazilian Marcelinho, Ismail Mattar and Mohammed Al Shehhi from the start. The away match will not be easy for Al Shabab who are keen to continue their positive results depending on their Brazilian star Ciel who proves day after day his high style, in addition to his compatriot Bruno Cesar and Essa Obaid.

Dibba Al Fujairah will host Al Dhafra at Khalifa bin Zayed Stadium in Al Ain at 5:25 in a balanced game as both teams have one point each. 

Al Nasr will face their city opponents Al Wasl at Maktoum bin Rashid Stadium in Al Shabab Club at 8:15pm in the concluding and strongest game of the league second round. The two teams emerged winners in the previous round and have three points each and their game is expected to be a thriller, especially in the presence of many quality players, in addition to the experience of Italian coach Walter Zenga, and Frenchman Bruno Metsu.