BANIYAS 2 AL SHABAB 0
Baniyas - Ahmed Ali 55', 74'
Man of the match - Yousef Jaber (Baniyas)
SHAMKHA // The first-half substitute Ahmed Ali scored two second-half goals for Baniyas as they recorded their first victory in six Arabian Gulf League games this season.
The double by the UAE international, returning from injury after missing almost the whole of last season, took his team to victory at home over Al Shabab on Friday night.
His first was a classic poacher’s goal as he swooped on a spilt ball from the Shabab goalkeeper Salem Abdullah off a header from the club’s new Argentine signing, Denis Stracqualursi, and tapped it in.
His second was a spectacular effort. He dribbled past two defenders, drew the keeper out of position and expertly slotted past him.
Caio Junior, the Shabab coach, claimed Ali’s first goal was offside, as well as the game’s turning point.
“I saw the replay and it was very clear,” the Brazilian said.
“Until then, it was a balanced game and I think we played a good game. But after that goal, everything changed.”
Luis Garcia, the Baniyas coach, said: “I haven’t seen and I can’t comment. It is very hard for anyone to stand in the dugout and claim it was offside,” the Spaniard said.
“We played an excellent game, particularly at the start, and could have scored three times. It is hard to play at the same level for more than 15 minutes in this humid weather.
“This win was important for the fans and the club and, of course, the mentality of the players. Obviously, we want to build on this success and take this momentum forward.”
Baniyas went on the offensive from the onset and had three chances. Bandar Al Ahbabi made a superb run down the left flank before crossing it to Stracqualursi, who stopped the ball and slipped it in front of the goalmouth, only to see it sent wide by Joan Verdu. Abdullah blocked a powerfully struck close range shot off a corner from Yousuf Jaber and Ahmed Al Mahri missed from inside the area.
Shabab were unlucky as Henrique Luvannor’s header goal was disallowed for pushing on a Baniyas defender.
His 30-yard effort from a free kick crashed against the crossbar.
A similar effort from Azizbek Haydarov hit off the far post soon after the break.
apassela@thenational.ae
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