Bottom-placed Ittihad Kalba thump Al Ain

AL AIN – Bottom-placed Ittihad Kalba scored their first win by defeating nine-time champions Al Ain in Week 9 of the Etisalat UAE Pro-League at the Tahnoon bin Mohammed Stadium in Al Ain on Sunday.

By James Jose

Published: Mon 13 Dec 2010, 11:36 AM

Last updated: Mon 6 Apr 2015, 3:57 AM

Ittihad Kalba, who had earned promotion along with Dubai FC this season, had lost seven games and five on the trot but they arrested the slide by thumping Al Ain 4-1 away after being a goal down.

In another game at the Dubai Club Stadium in Dubai, Dubai FC defeated third-placed Al Wasl 2-1. It was Dubai FC’s second win in nine encounters. They have lost seven games and have six points and are 11^th in the standings. Al Wasl are on 16 points behind league leaders Al Jazira and Bani Yas. They have won five, drawn one and lost three games.

Ittihad Kalba’s French forward Gregory Dufrennes and Salem Jasem scored a brace each, while Fares Juma scored for Al Ain. Al Ain went ahead in the fourth minute through Fares Juma but Ittihad Kalba hit back through Gregory Dufrennes in the 27^th minute. The team went into half-time locked 1-1.

Ittihad Kalba attacked more after the restart and nudged ahead in the 55^th minute through Salem Jasem. Salem Jasem then got his second and the team’s third in the 76^th minute. Gregory Dufrennes, then, rounded it off with this second goal in the 88^th minute.

Ittihad Kalba have four points from nine games and are 12^th in the standings. Al Ain remain on 10 points from nine games. They have won two, drawn four and lost three games and are ninth on the table.

james@khaleejtimes.com