Ajman rally to hold Dhafra

Al Dhafra’s Mubarak Hassan (left) and Ajman’s Driss Fettouhi vie for the ball during their AGl match on Saturday. — Supplied photo

Dubai: Ajman held hosts Al Dhafra to a 1-1 draw in the second round of the Arabian Gulf League at the Hamdan bin Zayed Al Nahyan Stadium on Thursday.

Al Dhafra scoring machine Makhete Diop gave the home team the lead in the 18^th minute and Boris Kabi equalised for Ajman from the spot in the 31^st minute to share the spoils. This was also the result at half-time.

The hosts survived a scare when Algerian striker Kareem Ziani after doing the all the work on the right crossed to Waleed Ahmed in front of the six-yard box, but the later shot high above the crossbar.

Towards the 18^th minute, Diop got the first breakthrough as he beat Ajman’s keeper Ali Mesmari with a perfect first timed shot to translate Rashid Mohammed’s long overhead pass.

The home team came close to increasing the tally less than two minutes later, but Matias’ effort was saved by Aesmari into a corner.

At the half hour mark, Ziani continued to trouble Al Dhafra defenders with his threatening outbursts. In one of his such runs, Ziani managed to get the better of the Dhafra defenders and fed an unmarked Jassem Ali. But jus as Ali was about to fire into the open net, he was brought down by the central-defender Rashid Omer inside the box. Boris Kabi, who stepped up to take the penalty made no mistake to level the sclores in the 31^st minute.

Thereafter, both sides began to raise the tempo of their game without much success at both ends until the final whistle of the first period.

No much change was foreseeable in the second half despite the attempts of the coaches to effect some replacements. And although the two teams played very well in the playmakers failed to create real scoring opportunities.

“We have lost two points, but it’s good not to be denied at home and in front of our fans,” said Al Dhafra’s left winger Saif Mohammed in a post-match chat.

“Al Dhafra have virtually controlled the match without much success upfront. I believe it’s the lack of experience in the absence of our veteran playmaker Abdul Salam Jumaa and other key players,” he said.

Teams: Al Dhafra: Keeper Abdulla Sultan, Khalaf Mohammed, Bilal Mohammed, Ahmed Suliman, Khalil Al Ali, Matias Adrian, Abdulraheem Jumaa, Saif Mohammed, Rashid Mohamed, Paulo De Oliveira, Makhete Diop.

Ajman: Ali Mesmari, Adil Salem, Mansour Mohamed, Kareem Ziani, Driss Fettouhi, Masoud Hassan, Waleed Ahmed, Mubarak Hassan, Boris Kabi, Ahmed Ibrahim, Jasem Ali.