Baniyas 2-2 Sharjah
Baniyas missed out on a golden opportunity to lift themselves off the bottom of the Arabian Gulf League table on Friday.
They were denied victory when Gelmin Rivas, Sharjah’s Venezuelan striker, struck an equaliser a minute from time in the 2-2 draw last night at Baniyas Stadium.
Harry Novillo struck twice for Baniyas — his first coming midway through the first half and his second six minutes after the break — before Nawaf Mubarak pulled one back for the visitors.
Baniyas still looked like picking up three valuable points winner until Adrian Mierzejewski, the Sharjah captain, engineered a last-minute attack.
The Polish midfielder led from the middle of the field to pave the way for Yousuf Saeed to make a run on the right flank and slip in a cross for Rivas to finish.
Abdulwahab Abdulqadir, the Baniyas manager, was naturally disappointed after his side squandered a two-goal lead.
“We had an opportunity to take three points but we came short of achieving it at the end,” he said.
“This is football. My players did a wonderful job. We just couldn’t finish off our job tonight but it most certainly has provided my players with the confidence that they can still compete against any side.”
Baniyas remain rooted to the bottom of the table on 12 points, one below the side in the relegation zone, Emirates.
With four games left, it now appears these two teams will have to win almost all their remaining games to avoid the drop.
• In Friday’s other games, Al Shabab’s winless run was stretched to six by Hatta’s late equaliser at Maktoum bin Rashid Stadium.
Mohammed Juma scored for Shabab after a goalmouth scramble, but they conceded a penalty two minutes from time, which Samuel Rosa converted for a 1-1 draw.
In the late game, Ahmed Khamis and Salem Saleh netted either side of half time for Al Nasr to emerge 2-1 winners over Kalba at Al Maktoum Stadium.
The home side then had to overcome a few anxious minutes after Modibo Maiga pulled one back on 90 minutes.
The win consolidated Nasr’s sixth position while Kalba continue to live dangerously four points above the drop zone.
apassela@thenational.ae
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