BANIYAS 4 DUBAI 0
Baniyas - Fawzi 68', Malalla 71, Saleh 81', 83'
Red cards - Ahmed Mallah (Dubai) Man of the match - Yousuf Jaber (Baniyas)
SHAMKHA // Baniyas produced a period of brilliance to score four times in 15 minutes to emerge resounding winners over short-handed Dubai, consolidating their mid-table position in the Arabian Gulf League.
Mohammed Fawzi and Ahmed Mallala scored twice within three minutes before Haboush Saleh completed the rout of Dubai’s 10-man side with two goals in a 4-0 win for Baniyas on their home pitch last night.
“We suffered a lot in the first half because we created so many chances, but couldn’t score,” said Jorge da Silva, the Baniyas coach.
“All that changed our style with two substitutions in the second half and we managed to break the deadlock.
“I wasn’t very impressed of our finishing on the moves, because we were either slow or didn’t create enough space when it wasn’t easy to create scoring opportunities, particularly when the other team is defending all the time.
“At the end, it was a good result, though. We can only keep working on our mistakes and try to improve from every game.”
Umberto Barberis, the Dubai coach, said their game plan was to return with a point and once Baniyas scored it was all over for them.
“We conceded a goal because of a mistake and lost a player for a red card, which I thought was too harsh for a tackle. So it as all over for us after the deadlock was broken,” he said.
“The team has been struggling for the same reason from the beginning of the season. We haven’t given up hopes and keep working hard to stay in the top flight.”
Fawzi opened the floodgates for Baniyas. Luis Farina drew the entire Dubai defence to set up the midfielder with a clear shot from inside the box.
Malalla was quick to tap in the loose ball after Sebastian Prediger’s low shot was blocked by Sultan Musabah, the Dubai goalkeeper. And Saleh made full use of the numerical advantage by scoring twice within four minutes.
Any Dubai’s comeback chance was erased when Ahmed Mallah was given marching orders for a red card.
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EMIRATES 2 AL WAHDA 1
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Emirates scored a morale-boosting win over Al Wahda at home to vault to 11th place (check) and steer clear of the relegation zone. Al Wahda had a re-registered Dino Djulbic scoring a goal on return in the 35th minute which put the visitors in the lead. Back on the field, Rodrigo Souza provided two vital assists to set up Jair’s equaliser in the 57th minute and Wanderley Sousa two minutes later.
