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Struggle continues for three seats to qualify to the semi-finals of the Etisalat Cup

Al Shabab, Al Ain, Dubai, Al Wasl, Al Ahli, Ajman and Bani Yas are to go into tough struggle in the 9th round of the Etisalat Cup for this season when the matches restart on Thursday, Friday and Saturday 13, 24, and 25 February at 7:05pm. Emirates will host their counterparts Al Wasl and Dubai will face hosts Al Ain at Tahnoun Bin Mohammad Stadium in Qattara on Thursday while Bani Yas are to travel to Ajman, Al Nasr will meet their city rivals Al Shabab and Sharjah will take on Al Ahli at their home ground on Friday. The program of this round will be concluded on next Saturday February 25 when Al Jazira who have already qualified to the semifinal stage will tackle it out against Al Wahda. The match was postponed for two days due to Al Wahda participation in their first match in the 2012 Gulf Clubs Championship against Qatari side Al Khuraitiat. Al Wahda have collected 13 points which put them out of contention.

Al Wasl with 12 points are seeking to win full points against Emirates in their match at the latters pitch. The visitors lost 2-4 to Ajman in round 14 of the Etisalat Pro-League while Emirates who are facing relegation will consider the game as just a part of their preparations for the league remaining matches.

The team who emerge winners in Al Ain- Dubai encounter will approach 75% of the semi-finals, and therefore the match is expected to be tough, on the grounds that Dubai has lost everything this season.

On the other hand Ajman (13 points) will host Bani Yas (11 points) on Friday 24 February and the losers in the game will lose hope to proceed to the golden square.

Al Shabab who collected 16 points are endeavoring to qualify to the semi finals stage when they play at home on Friday against Al Nasr who lost their chance in the competition, but they are preparing to face Sepahan of Iran on March 7 in their first 2012 AFC Champions League  game.