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Juma Mohammed Al Dhaheri brace helps UAE win

Juma Mohammed Al Dhaheri’s double and goals from Mubarak Al Mazrouei, Ali Al Mazrouei and Saeed Al Nuaimi gave the UAE a 5-1 victory.

Action during the IIHF Asian Ice Hockey Challenge Cup ice hockey match between the UAE and Kuwait at Abu Dhabi Ice Hockey Rink, Zayed Sports City. — KT photo by Nezar Balout

Captain Juma Mohammed Al Dhaheri scored a brace as hosts UAE began their campaign with a comprehensive win in the IIHF Ice Hockey Challenge Cup of Asia at the Abu Dhabi Ice Hockey Rink at Zayed Sports City, late on Sunday night. Juma Mohammed Al Dhaheri’s double and goals from Mubarak Al Mazrouei, Ali Al Mazrouei and Saeed Al Nuaimi gave the UAE a 5-1 victory.

Thailand opened the tournament with a 2-1 win over Hong Kong, while defending champions Chinese Taipei walloped Mongolia 10-3, in other games on the night.

The event is being organised by the Abu Dhabi Sports Council (ADSC) and UAE are eyeing a third title at home. The tournament runs till March 22. The UAE had won the second Asian Ice Hockey Championship at home, back in 2009 and later won the IIHF Ice Hockey Challenge Cup of Asia in 2012, in Dehradun, India.

The UAE last played host to the 2012 World Men III Division Ice Hockey Qualification. They had qualified for the 2013 IIHF World Championship Div. III held in Cape Town, South Africa, for the first time.

The UAE, kitted up in their regular red, went ahead on seven minutes through Juma Mohammed Al Dhaheri after a PP1 (Power play – 1 player). The hosts doubled the lead with Al Dhaheri getting the second on nine minutes after a SH1 (Shorthanded – 1 player).

The UAE finished the first period with a 3-0 lead after Mubarak Al Mazrouei scored on 13 minutes after a PP1. Kuwait kept a check on UAE in the second period and they finished goalless at the end of it.

Kuwait pulled one back in the beginning of the third period with captain Mohammad Al Ajmi scoring on 42 minutes.

But that was all that they could manage as the UAE added two more goals in the final period. Ali Al Mazrouei scored the fourth on 43 minutes after an EQ (Equal strength) and Saeed Al Nuaimi, who had two assists in the game, rounded it off with the fifth on 45 minutes after an EQ.