Stout Fujairah right their ship with victory at Sharjah

Fujairah vault into 10th place after second league victory of season

Sharjah, in white, taking on Fujairah during their Arabian Gulf League match in Sharjah on December 4, 2014. Courtesy Al Ittihad

Sharjah // The fixture was always going to be a battle of the minnows. Sharjah came into Thursday night’s clash after a surprisingly solid showing against Ajman last week, while Fujairah had just absorbed a seven-goal drubbing at the hands of Baniyas.

Though both teams have failed to impress this season, it was expected of Sharjah to take the three points at home, which they failed to do in a 2-0 loss at Sharjah Stadium.

The home team dominated the first half but failed to earn a dividend. Sharjah should have opened the scoring in the 15th minute, when Brazilian striker Wanderley had a respectable go at goal from outside the box, but the shot was cleared for a corner by Ayoub Al Marzouqi.

Manager Paulo Bonamigo's side were denied a penalty in the 39th minute when Wanderley appeared to have been pulled back by Abdulaziz Ismail in the box.

The half ended with a wonderful counter in the 41st minute, when Wanderley dribbled the ball the entire length toward Al Marzouqi, only for the shot to rattle off the crossbar.

Fujairah have not played to their usual standard this season, but when it mattered, they found a way to play their best.

A goal by Boubacar Sanogo gave Fujairah the lead 17 minutes into the half after a wild cross into the box from Ibrahim Khameis resulted in a blunder by Mohamed Yousif. The goalkeeper tried to tip the ball over the top of the goal, but instead saw it ricochet off the bar and into the path of Sanogo, who tapped it in.

Fujairah looked confident thereafter, and their persistence paid off. Sanogo scored his fourth goal of the league season and second of the night in the 71st minute with a full-contact header following a Ebrahim Khameis corner, which ultimately sealed the game.

Wanderley scored what seemed to be a consolation goal in the 86th minute, but it was waved off by referee Mohammed Obaid, who ruled that Wanderley pushed Salem Obaid Saif in the box.

The clubs are joint 10th in the Arabian Gulf League standings, with Fujairah ahead by virtue of their head-to-head win.

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