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UAE League Cup: Round One Review

The 2013/14 UAE football season swung into action in midweek as twelve of the fourteen teams began their UAE League Cup campaigns. In what was the first competitive test for most sides, a few surprises were sprung along the way, promising an entertaining Cup competition to come.

Tuesday’s first match saw Al Jazira travel to Al Shaab and record a 1-0 away win, courtesy of a Ricardo Oliveira penalty in the 74th minute. The match, which was played at Sharjah’s stadium due to ongoing renovation works at Al Shaab’s home ground, sees Luis Milla’s side take 2nd place in Group A with an opening three points. Al Shaab are 6th in the group.

The two 8:30pm kick-offs on Tuesday saw Al Wahda secure a 1-0 home win over Dubai at the Al Nahyan Stadium in Abu Dhabi, thanks to a debut goal from Argentinian striker Sebastian Tagliabue, whilst Al Shabab suffered a 1-0 home defeat at the hands of Al Wasl. Hamad Al Hosani came off the bench to score for Laurent Banide’s team, who played against a 10-man Al Shabab for over an hour after Dawoud Ali was shown a straight red card for a high tackle in the 27th minute. Al Wasl’s returning captain Mariano Donda was also given his marching orders in injury time. Al Wahda are 3rd in Group A whilst Al Shaab sit 6th after the first round of matches, and in Group B Al Wasl have taken 3rd spot with Al Shabab 6th.

In Wednesday’s 6pm kick-off, Arabian Gulf Super Cup champions Al Ahli suffered a 3-1 defeat on the road at Al Dhafra, succumbing to an opening goal from Bandar Mohammed and a brace from Moroccan attacker Kamel Chafni on his debut put Al Dhafra into a 3-0 first half lead. Al Ahli captain Grafite managed to pull a goal back for the visitors in the second half, but Cosmin’s side, missing seven key Emirati players due to international duty, were unable to turn the score around. Al Dhafra sit top of Group B at the conclusion of the first round, whilst Al Ahli are bottom.

There was another surprise in the 8:30pm kick-off between Bani Yas and Al Ain at the Bani Yas Stadium, as the home side comprehensively defeated the reigning League champions 3-1. An opening goal from Fawaz Awana was followed by a Nawaf Mubarak brace in a convincing performance from Jorge da Silva’s steeds. Mohammed Abdulrahman scored a consolation from the penalty spot, but Al Ain now prop up Group A after the opening UAE League Cup round, whilst Bani Yas sit top. Concluding the round’s action, current Cup holders Ajman came from behind to beat Al Nasr 2-1 at the Al Maktoum Stadium in Dubai. New Senegalese signing Ibrahima Toure, who moved to join the Blue Wave from AS Monaco this summer, wasted no time in opening his account to put Al Nasr 1-0 up in the 39th minute, but Ajman could also boast a scoring debutant as Simon Feindouno equalised before captain Boris Kabi grabbed a late winner four minutes from time. Ajman are 2nd in Group B and Al Nasr 5th at the end of Round One of the UAE League Cup.