Bani Yas dent Al Wasl, Dibba blank Fujairah

Dubai - Elsewhere, in Fujairah, Dibba blanked 10-man Fujairah 4-0.

By James Jose

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Published: Sat 9 Apr 2016, 3:54 PM

Last updated: Sat 9 Apr 2016, 5:57 PM

Bani Yas put a spoke into Al Wasl's wheel for a top four finish by rallying from a goal down to defeat 'The Cheetahs' in the Arabian Gulf League at the Bani Yas Stadium on Friday night.
Australian midfielder Mark Milligan and Algerian international striker Ishak Belfodil had scored on 39 and 43 minutes for the Sky Blues after Al Wasl had gone ahead through Fabio de Lima in the 26th minute.
The 2-1 defeat, Al Wasl's seventh this term and their sixth on the road, still left 'The Cheetahs' in third with 35 points. But not for long though as other results could push them down to fifth.
Meanwhile, Bani Yas, in Abdulla Misfir's first game at the helm, after the Sky Blues had parted ways with the Spaniard Luis Garcia, are sixth with 29 points. This was the Al Shamkha club's seventh win and fourth at home.
Elsewhere, in Fujairah, Dibba blanked 10-man Fujairah 4-0.
Ahmed Ibrahiem fired a brace on 45 and 63 minutes, while Bakary Kone and Brahima Diakite added the other two, on 70 and 77 minutes respectively.
Fujairah had to play out 32 minutes with 10 men after Ibrahiem Alalawi was sent off on 58 minutes.
Dibba are ninth with their eighth victory moving them to 28 points, while Fujairah are rooted one place from the bottom with 19 points.
Bani Yas showed their intent right from the start with Haboush Saleh coming close in the opening minutes but Al Wasl goalkeeper Yousef Al Zaabi pulled off a fine save.
The Sky Blues had another attempt minutes later but Al Wasl midfielder Ali Salmeen averted the danger by clearing it for a corner, on 22 minutes.
But it was The Cheetahs who broke the deadlock against the run of play, on 26 minutes, through Fabio de Lima.
Fabio de Lima latched onto a fine pass before making his way into the box and blasting it into the net. But just past the half hour mark, Al Wasl suffered an injury blow to Rogerio Coutinho and he was to be stretchered off. Abdulla Kazim came in place of him.
Bani Yas, though, came back into the game by finding the equaliser on 39 minutes through Mark Milligan. The Australian international unleashed a volley, from close range, into the roof of the net after being fed by Ishak Belfodil.
And with two minutes left in the first half, the Sky Blues took the lead through Belfodil, who tapped it home from close range after Joaquin Larrivey had sent a low cross in.
Al Wasl desperately tried to get the equaliser with substitute Abdulla Kazim firing it just wide of the post, just after the hour.
At the other end, Milligan could have got a brace but his header was cleared off the goal line. They then held out for the victory.
Bani Yas 2
(Goals: Mark Milligan 39, Ishak Belfodil 43. Yellow cards: Ahmed Mohamed Mubarak 10, Mohamed Jaber 23, Ishak Belfodil 45)
Al Wasl 1
(Goal: Fabio de Lima 26. Yellow card: Ali Salmeen 60)
Dibba 4
(Goals: Ahmed Ibraheim 45, 63, Bakary Kone 70, Brahima Diakite 77. Yellow card: Ahmed Ibraheim 63)
Fujairah 0
(Yellow cards: Ibrahiem Alalawi 24, Fahed Khalfan 68. Red card: Ibrahiem Alalawi 58)
james@khaleejtimes.com
 


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