Baniyas showed plenty of desire to win against Al Dhafra on Saturday. Imran Shahid / Al Ittihad
Baniyas showed plenty of desire to win against Al Dhafra on Saturday. Imran Shahid / Al Ittihad

Luis Garcia proud after Baniyas enter cup Arabian Gulf Cup semi-finals



ABU DHABI // Baniyas took another step in their transformation under Luis Garcia as they booked their spot in the semi-finals of the Arabian Gulf Cup on Saturday night.

The Spanish coach – who has turned his side’s fortunes around after a torrid start to the season – watched Baniyas register to a 2-0 home win over Al Dhafra, who finished with 10 men.

Baniyas were ahead of Dhafra in the table on goal difference and would have gone through even if the game had ended in a draw.

“The game against Dhafra was already like a semi-final, and I’m glad we made it,” Garcia said.

“Of course, we had to be cautious. A goal for either side could have made the difference in such a game, and fortunately, we got it first.”

The red card to Dhafra midfielder Abdulla Al Naqbi near the hour mark, for a second bookable offence, swayed the game in Baniyas’s favour. Bandar Al Ahbabi then found the net, sliding home a cross from Joan Verdu in the 64th minute, and Denis Stracqualursi clinched the win at the end of injury time.

Marion Ion, the Dhafra coach, blamed the sending-off of Al Naqbi as the reason for his side’s defeat.

“It was a crucial time in the game to have a player sent off, and then conceding a goal a few minutes later. Our players couldn’t recover from that setback,” he said.

Meanwhile, Wanderley’s winner in added time powered Sharjah to a 2-1 victory over Emirates in Ras Al Khaimah as they topped Group B.

Rodriguinho put Sharjah ahead in the 33rd minute before an own goal from Shahin Abdulrahman on the hour levelled the scores. Hamdan Qassim was sent off for Emirates in added time.

Al Wahda rounded off their campaign with a consolation away win, 3-1 over Fujairah.

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UAE currency: the story behind the money in your pockets
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The flights

FlyDubai flies direct from Dubai to Skopje in five hours from Dh1,314 return including taxes. Hourly buses from Skopje to Ohrid take three hours.

The tours

English-speaking guided tours of Ohrid town and the surrounding area are organised by Cultura 365; these cost €90 (Dh386) for a one-day trip including driver and guide and €100 a day (Dh429) for two people. 

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Villa St Sofija in the old town of Ohrid, twin room from $54 (Dh198) a night.

St Naum Monastery, on the lake 30km south of Ohrid town, has updated its pilgrims' quarters into a modern 3-star hotel, with rooms overlooking the monastery courtyard and lake. Double room from $60 (Dh 220) a night.

 

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Saturday's results

West Ham 2-3 Tottenham
Arsenal 2-2 Southampton
Bournemouth 1-2 Wolves
Brighton 0-2 Leicester City
Crystal Palace 1-2 Liverpool
Everton 0-2 Norwich City
Watford 0-3 Burnley

Manchester City v Chelsea, 9.30pm 

Emergency

Director: Kangana Ranaut

Stars: Kangana Ranaut, Anupam Kher, Shreyas Talpade, Milind Soman, Mahima Chaudhry 

Rating: 2/5

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Sally Rooney, Faber & Faber
 

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THE SPECS

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Formula Middle East Calendar (Formula Regional and Formula 4)
Round 1: January 17-19, Yas Marina Circuit – Abu Dhabi
 
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Round 3: February 7-9, Dubai Autodrome – Dubai
 
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Round 5: February 25-27, Jeddah Corniche Circuit – Saudi Arabia
Ruwais timeline

1971 Abu Dhabi National Oil Company established

1980 Ruwais Housing Complex built, located 10 kilometres away from industrial plants

1982 120,000 bpd capacity Ruwais refinery complex officially inaugurated by the founder of the UAE Sheikh Zayed

1984 Second phase of Ruwais Housing Complex built. Today the 7,000-unit complex houses some 24,000 people.  

1985 The refinery is expanded with the commissioning of a 27,000 b/d hydro cracker complex

2009 Plans announced to build $1.2 billion fertilizer plant in Ruwais, producing urea

2010 Adnoc awards $10bn contracts for expansion of Ruwais refinery, to double capacity from 415,000 bpd

2014 Ruwais 261-outlet shopping mall opens

2014 Production starts at newly expanded Ruwais refinery, providing jet fuel and diesel and allowing the UAE to be self-sufficient for petrol supplies

2014 Etihad Rail begins transportation of sulphur from Shah and Habshan to Ruwais for export

2017 Aldar Academies to operate Adnoc’s schools including in Ruwais from September. Eight schools operate in total within the housing complex.

2018 Adnoc announces plans to invest $3.1 billion on upgrading its Ruwais refinery 

2018 NMC Healthcare selected to manage operations of Ruwais Hospital

2018 Adnoc announces new downstream strategy at event in Abu Dhabi on May 13

Source: The National

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Abu Dhabi race card

5pm Abu Dhabi Fillies Classic Prestige Dh110,000 1,400m

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6pm Abu Dhabi Championship Listed Dh180,000 1,600m

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7.30pm Handicap (TB) |Dh100,000 2,400m

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