High-drama as Bani Yas steal win

Dubai: Eleven goals were scored in two UAE Football League matches played on Saturday, but only one team managed to walk away with the full three points as newly promoted sides Emirates RAK and Bani Yas made it clear they are not to be written off as also-rans in the 12-team table.

Dubai giants Al Wasl were held to a 3-3 draw at home by newly promoted Bani Yas, while Emirates, the other side to gain promotion, beat Sharjah 3-2, on a day when top-flight regulars stumbled.

Wasl came from behind, but squandered a one-goal advantage twice as Bani Yas denied them what, on paper, seemed to be an easy win.

Fareed Esmail placed the ball into the net with pinpoint accuracy to put the visitors ahead in the fourth minute after a brilliant pass from Omani midfielder Fawzia Bashir.

However, Bani Yas's joy was short lived as Saeed Al Kas' superb right-foot drive ricocheted off the post and into Ayoub Omar's goal.

The hosts entered the break with a 2-1 lead following Panama striker Blas Perez's conversion from the spot after Fahd Ahmad hacked down Alexandre Oliveira in the box.

Wasl, though, failed to build on the advantage and Bani Yas striker Andre Sangahour restored parity following a long spell of complacent football from the hosts.

Wasl regained the lead after their industrious skipper Eisa Ali headed home from close range, but another half-hearted spell from his side and their inability to keep possession saw Bani Yas' substitute striker Bodibo Diarra scoring late in injury-time equaliser.

Al Wasl were shattered, especially coach Alexandre Guimaraes, who failed to start his league campaign with a win. And the Costa Rican blamed the result on the hosts' inadequate possession figures.

He said: "I think we had a very good first half, but we needed more [than just the one goal lead] because they scored in the second half and that put us under pressure. With a few substitutions, we recovered later on, but once again we failed to keep possession and that gave the match away. We were unfortunate not to come off with three points."

However, Guimaraes is confident the side will bounce back, first, when they host Bahrain's Riffa in the Gulf Clubs Championships tomorrow and then against Al Shabab next Sunday. "I spoke with the players and nobody is happy and satisfied with losing two points in the last minute. But we will recover and if we can win [against Riffa] we will have good momentum going into the match with Al Shabab."

His opposite number Lutfi Al Banzarty said: "We have a very valuable point because we came back into the match twice. We created more chances and equalised and got a good away result."

Elsewhere, two Adnan Hussain goals, either side of half-time, and a Musallam Ahmad strike helped Emirates beat Sharjah 3-2 at home. Marcelo Oliveira Silva and Salem Saif's injury-time goal reduced the arrears for the visitors.