DUBAI // The Ajman coach says he has not seen his team play as badly as they did against Al Ahli, but the visitors still managed to steal a 2-1 win to all but seal their place in the last four of the Etisalat Cup.
Ahli conceded twice in the final 12 minutes after Luis Jimenez had given them a 19th-minute lead as Founeke Sy and Boris Kabi came alive in the final minutes to lead Ajman to victory.
Abdulwahab Abdulqadir, the coach, was pleased with the victory, but was scathing in his criticism of his side's performance, even though it was their first win in four matches.
"This is one of the worst games we have played since the beginning of the season," said Abdulqadir, the coach. "We were looking for a better performance against Ahli, especially since their important players like Grafite and [Achille] Emana were absent."
"But most of the players did not seem to be concentrating on the pitch. They were not organised and the technical aspects were not applied, but we still got a win. I wish my players will show a better performance in the next game against Al Wasl."
The win takes Ajman's tally to six points from two games and they enjoy a comfortable lead in Group C. Ahli and Al Shabab, who play Dibba today, have a point each.
Ahli were missing many of their regulars for the game. The Cameroon midfielder Emana and the Lebanon defender Yousuf Mohammed are on national duty, like many of the defending Etisalat Cup champions' Emirati internationals.
Grafite was out through suspension and that gave Ahmed Khalil a rare opportunity of playing as the lone striker. However, the Emirati, who has been struggling in recent times, did not make the best of his chance, hitting the post twice.
"This is football," said Quique Sanchez Flores, the Ahli coach, about Khalil. "You make an attempt, deciding what to do in those final moments. Sometimes, the ball bounces into the goal and sometimes it hits the post.
"That is OK. For me, the most important thing is that he is creating opportunities. He created a couple of very clear opportunities. The task is obviously to score goals, but he is trying."
Khalil was unlucky not to have opened the scores in the eighth minute after a dazzling run through the Ajman defence. He had beaten the goalkeeper Yousuf Abdullah as well, but his shot hit the woodwork.
Jimenez, however, was spot on with his effort in the 19th minute, beating the offside trap before placing the ball past the keeper.
Ahli should have had a second in the 25th minute, but Khalil's frustrating time in front of goal continued as he failed to get past a sliding Abdullah. In the 39th minute, he hit the woodwork yet again.
The lead stood until 12 minutes from the end when Sy equalised with a crisp turn and finish in the 78th minute.
With five minutes left on the clock, Ajman got their second when Ali Khamis crossed for Kabi to tap home.
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