Luvannor hat-trick sinks Bani Yas

Abu Dhabi - Al Wahda, Al Dhafra fail to score in Capital derby

Al Shabab striker Henrique Luvannor piled more misery on Bani Yas despite the Abu Dhabi club putting an improved performance during the Round 16 of the Arabian Gulf League match at Bani Yas Stadium on Friday.
Moldova's Luvannor struck thrice to help Al Shabab beat Baniyas 4-2.
Luvannor scored in the ninth minute in a closely fought first half. After the break the resistance was broken and goals rained.
Argentinian midfielder Tomas De Vincenti scored in the 55th minute and immediately Bani Yas responded with back-to-back goals.
The 'Sky Blues' French striker Jean-Philippe Mendy pegged one back in the 59th minute and scored again in the next minute to level the score.
Just when Bani Yas enjoyed a brief spell of success, Luvannor wrested the advantage with a 69th minute strike. Even as Bani Yas went all out looking for the equaliser, Luvannor dealt the killer blow with a last minute strike.
Bani Yas have once again failed to grab points at home, the place where they clinched their only win.
Meanwhile on Thursday night Al Wahda and Al Dhafra missed a host of chances to score a goal and bag three points at the Al Nahyan Stadium.
Al Wahda started without six regulars - striker Sebastian Tagliabue, midfielders Balazs Dzsuzsak, Jorge Valdivia and Sultan Al Ghafri, defender Ahmed Rashed and keeper Rashid Ali.
Likewise, Al Dhafra played without midfielders Hamad Al Hammadi, Abdulla Al Nuqbi, Abdulrahim Jumaa, defender Mohamed Al Maeini and keeper Ali Al Ameer.
For Al Wahda, it was Ismail Matar who led the charge and was unlucky not to have scored through some curling free kicks and long rangers. The Clarets started with striker Mohamed Al Akbari and he was a constant threat for Al Dhafra defence and keeper Zaid Ahmed.
Al Wahda defenders created and missed chances as Salem Sultan headed straight to the keeper from Hamdan Al Kamali's free kick and Rim Chang-woo too couldn't power his header from Matar's free kick.
Al Dhafra, too, had their moments but Moroccan duo of Adil Hermach and Yassine Salhi failed to find correct placements and keeper Ali Al Hosani was up to the challenge too to keep it goalless going into the break.
Early in the second half Matar was brought down by defender Abdurahman Yousef and the resulting free kick went wide.
Matar was in action again, this time, with a well-crafted pass to Mohamed Al Akbari. The striker moved smartly to go clear from Ibrahim Saeed but couldn't convert.
Again, Rim Chang-woo did everything right to connect to the ball but couldn't find direction from an Al Wahda free-kick. In the closing stages, Matar had few chances but it wasn't meant to be Al Wahda's night.
Yassine Salhi tried to change Al Dhafra's fortunes but couldn't do so as his low free kick dipped wide and the match finished goalless.
ashwani@khaleejtimes.com