Al Ain survive Kalba scare through Katheeri winner

Abu Dhabi - Al Ain started the game with a Boss-like swagger but ended up limping out after underestimating the new kid on the block.

Kalba on Friday night made a stunning start to their life in the top league of the UAE football.
The newly promoted side had Al Ain on the mat during the first round match of the Arabian Gulf Cup at the Hazza bin Zayed Stadium. It was Saeed Al Katheeri who saved Al Ain the blushes with a late goal to secure a 3-2 win. Al Ain were missing seven national players and none more sorely than their talisman Omar Abdulrahman.
Ibrahim Diaky was handed the captain's band and for a change, started the match too. Caio Fernandes too made his Cup debut. Al Ain started the game with a Boss-like swagger but ended up limping out after underestimating the new kid on the block. Al Ain opened the scoring in the 10th minute through a penalty. Danilo Asprilla's cross was handled in the penalty area by Ghanem Ahmed and referee awarded a spot kick. Diaky did the honours.
And in the 26th minute, Al Ain doubled through Brazilian forward Dyanfres Douglas, who converted an overhead bicycle kick. Al Ain entered half-time with a lead of 2-nil. It might be a pep talk by newly appointed Kalba head coach Fabio Vivana that did the wonders as Kalba returned to play some terrific game.
Yasser Abdullah powered home through a 59th minute free-kick. This saw Dalic enforce the first change of the match. He replaced Diaky with Rashed Essa. But more drama was to follow as striker Mihai Alexandru scored through a long ranger in the 64th minute to make it 2-all.
Dalic then got in Saeed Al Katheeri for Douglas in the 72nd minute.
And the last draw of the dice move worked as the striker struck the winner to pocket three points. However, this is a creditable performance by Kalba and one that raises few question mark for Dalic.
Goals
Al Ain (3) Ibrahim Diaky (10) Dyanfres Douglas (26) Saeed Al Katheeri (90+3) Kalba 2 Yasser Abdullah (59) Mihai Alexandru (64)
Yellow Cards Al Ain Saeed Al Menhali (19) Rashed Essa (71) Saeed Al Katheeri (87) Kalba Ghanem Ahmed (45)