• Home
• /
• Local Sports

Al Ahli overcome Ajman

Al Ahli’s Brazilian winger Siel converted a controversial penalty kick in the extra time to earn Al Ahli a crucial 2-1 victory over hosts Ajman at the Rashid bin Saeed Stadium here on Thursday evening.

The immediate reaction was attempted attack against the referee by the angry fans and the referee was escorted by the police to his room.

“I don’t know whether it’s a penalty or not, but what matters we have won the game and added crucial full points to our tally,” said Al Ahli Brazilian forward Grafite in a post-match chat.

Ajman player Mohammed Al Jasmi commented: “It’s not my job to criticise bad refereeing or hold the referee responsible for the defeat. But, to award the other side a penalty two minutes after the end of the injury time in a controversial manner and to blow the final whistle after the execution is something astonishing.”

However, Ajman set the early pace and African-import Boris Kabi made the best of a lack of communication between Al Ahli defender Basheer Saeed and keeper Yousuf Saif to put his side ahead in the 14^th minute. Ironically, Luis Jimenez headed home the equaliser for Al Ahli two minutes into the injury time of the first half to make 1-1 before the interval.

Al Ahli were apparently the better side on the pitch after the break, but their strikers failed to capitalise on any of the endless scoring opportunities that have come in their way. Two minutes after the five-minute injury time, substitute Ahmed Khalil tussled for possession against Ajman defender Simon inside the box and fell down to give the referee a very good reason to award him a penalty and Siel made no mistake from the spot. At this stage, Al Ahli supporters took a deep breath while some of Ajman’s angry fans retaliated in a relatively violent way.