Arabian Gulf League: Dibba, Al Dhafra play out a stalemate

BATTLE OF THE CAPTAINS: Al Dhafra captain Adil Hermach (right) tries to keep pace with Dibba skipper Driss Fettouhi in the Arabian Gulf League at the Fujairah Stadium on Friday.

Al Dhafra came away with a second successive draw after managing to hold Dibba to a stalemate in the fifth round of the Arabian Gulf League at the Fujairah Stadium on Thursday night.
After an insipid first half, the hosts broke the deadlock through Alassane Diallo on 52 minutes. A second victory seemed to be on the cards but Abdulrahman Yousaf put paid to Dibba hopes with the leveler, 10 minutes from time.
The result put an end to Dibba's two-match unbeaten run at home. It was Dibba's first draw this season and they are level on points with Al Nasr, although the latter are fifth in the standings, based on a better goal difference. Meanwhile, Al Dhafra's third draw saw The Western Knights remain in seventh, a spot behind Dibba.
Ahmed Rashed made a return to the Dibba squad but was restricted to the bench, while Hmaid Rabei's absence continued.
Both teams had opportunities in the first half but none threatening enough to raise alarms for either goalkeeper - Dibba's Fahd Mohamed and Al Dhafra's Zayed Ahmed Hammadi. Dibba had the best chance of the first half but Zayed Ahmed Hammadi just about managed to keep away a long ranger.
The half-time break and the pep talk from coach Paulo Comelli infused some fresh thinking into Dibba as they took the lead on 52 minutes. Dibba couldn't make the corner count but had another opportunity to salvage something out of it. Yaseen Mahmoud set things in motion with a pass to Ciel and the former Al Shabab and Al Ahli striker sent an inch perfect cross for Alassane Diallo to head home.
But Al Dhafra managed to get back into the contest with Abdulrahman Yousaf on target following a corner. The corner took a deflection off Ciel and fell in Yousaf's path. The Emirati then kept his composure to drive it into an open goal.
Dibba are on the road to Dubai to meet Al Wasl at the Zabeel Stadium next week, while The Western Knights host Al Nasr at the Hamdan bin Zayed Al Nahyan Stadium.
james@khaleejtimes.com
 
 
GOALS & CARDS:
Dibba 1
(Goal: Alassane Diallo 52)
Al Dhafra 1
(Goal: Abdulrahman Yousaf 80. Yellow cards: Khalid Al Darmaki 12, Abdulrahman Yousaf 56, Saeed Salem Al Katheeri 90+4)