News Center

Kalba repeat their win over Al Ain to postpone relegation struggle to next round

 

Kalba became only two points behind their competitors Al Ain after beating them 4-3 in the Etisalat Pro-League Round 20 match played tonight at the winners' pitch. Al Ain came from behind when they were 1-0 down to end the first half with a 2-1 lead. The winners raised their tally to 20 points against 22 for Al Ain, but both teams remain in their previous positions with the losers Al Ain taking 10th place and the winners Kalba staying second from bottom. The result postpones the relegation struggle till Round 21 or may be to the last Round.

Al Ain and Kalba played with high concentration looking for a win, but at the same time they kept an eye on their rivals' strikers trying to spoil their entire attempts. The visiting team controlled the game creating a number of scoring chances that forced the hosts to retreat to their back area. Al Ain's Brazilian player Elias squandered a lovely sitter when Mohammad Abdul Rahman sent him a perfect pass inside the box, but he shot wide. Kalba's first choice striker Gregory from France put his team into the lead in the 20th minute when he headed home the long pass sent by a defender despite of Al Ain's defender Ismail Ahmad's and goalie Dawood Sulaiman's efforts to clear the ball. But Mohammad Abdul Rahman leveled the score with a strong shot in the 28th minute.

The visitors made some good work afterwards hopping to add more goals. They concentrated their attacks on both flanks through Ali Al Wihaibi and Mohammad Abdul Rahman who switched a number of balls inside the box, but the strikers failed to capitalize on them. The host team also reached Al Ain's goal area many times, but their contenders' defenders stood solid on their way.

Both teams played a balanced game exerting more efforts, but all their work was in vain. Al Ain came close to score the second goal, but Brazilian player Elias' severe left footer rebounded off the cross bar in the 32nd minute. Al Ain took the lead five minutes before the break when Kalba's defender Rashid Malalla fouled Al Ain's advancing defender Muslam Fayez inside the six yard area for referee Ali Hamad to point for a penalty. Omar Abdul Rahman made no mistake converting the ball into the net making it 2-1. Al Ain missed the efforts of their midfielder Ibrahima Kieta from Ivory Coast who was shown the red card in the 44th minute after collecting two yellow cards. Al Ain ended the    first session with a 2-1 lead, but they were highly affected in the second half by the sending off of Keita.

The hosts waited only two minutes into the second half before they netted the equalizer through their player Rashid Abdul Rahman who brought the game back to the golden square with a lovely header. The two teams tensified their attacks looking for the winner. Al Ain's midfielder Omar Abdul Rahman was unlucky to see his placing volley hitting the cross bar in the 57th minute. But it was Kalba who succeeded in netting the winner with Gregory's nice header from inside the box one minute later. The two coaches made some changes with Al Ain's Brazilian coach Alexander Gallo bringing on Bander Mohammad and Juma'a Saeed from Ivory Coast to replace Brazilian Elias and Mohammad Ali Ayidh and his counterpart Feiera coach of Kalba fielded in Ahmad Dheyaa to substitute Ibrahim Abdullah.

After a number of continuous attacks, Al Ain were able to score the equalizer via midfielder Omar Abdul Rahman who launched a left footer that went straight into the right hand corner making it 3-3 four minutes before the final whistle. But Abdullah Faraj broke the hearts of Al Ain's players when he   surprised their keeper Dawood Sulaiman with a long-range shot. Dawood who was standing two meters out of his goal, failed to save the ball two minute to time giving the hosts a 4-3 win.

In the other matches played in the same day, Al Jazira came from behind to finish their game against Al Shabab with a 3-3 draw raising their balance to 50 points, but the defeat made Al Shabab to lose their third spot and slip to 5th spot with 30 points. Al Wasl jumped one step forward to sit in the third place with 31 points after beating Dubai with a lone goal, one point ahead of Al Wahda who outclassed Al Ahli 2-0 to move to 4th spot with Al Ahli staying in their previous 7th position on 26 points.

Al Nasr also remain in the their 6th place with 29 points after beating lowly Al Dhafra 4-1 and Bani Yas preserve their second place following their 1-1 draw against Sharjah who are in 8th spot on 24 points.