Dubai: Joma clinched third spot with a hard-fought 3-2 win over the Mohammad Bin Ali Team in the third place play-off in the Seventh Maktoum Bin Rashid Al Maktoum Football Championship, being played at the Dubai Police Officers Club.

In Tuesday’s fight for third place, it was Ali Ghuloom delivering the final blow when he struck in the final minute to give Joma victory.

Salem Hassan opened the scoring on a cool night when he tapped in from close range in the ninth minute. Mohammad Malallah doubled the advantage when he drove in from the top of the box in the 16th minute. But the Mohammad Bin Ali Team managed to pull one back just before half-time when Maher Jasem headed in a cross from the left.

In the second half, Joma threw in an extra defender in an attempt to preserve their lead. They managed to do so until the 34th minute when Saud Saif poked home from a well-built attack from the right flank. That opened up the game and it was Ali Ghuloom signing off with a match-winner with a few seconds left on the clock.

Held under the patronage of Shaikh Mohammad Bin Maktoum Bin Rashid Al Maktoum, the annual tournament has a total purse of Dh750,000. The event attracted 20 teams from across the UAE with the final between hosts Khamis Al Mazeina team and Bin Darwish scheduled for Wednesday night.

The UAE and Al Ahli midfielder Majid Hassan, who was the stand-in coach for Joma, was pleased with third spot.

“This team was an experiment and an experience for me. Our focus was to build a team from locally-available talent, and I think we did well within the constraints of time,” Hassan told Gulf News.

Joma lost 5-4 in a penalty shoot-out after being tied 1-1 against Bin Darwish in the semi-finals. “With a little bit of luck we could have even reached the final,” he added.

Hassan urged his fellow international players to come up with similar experiences so that youth have opportunities to showcase their talents.

“Our ambition in our first-ever participation was to make it to the semi-finals. So for us to go one step ahead and win third place is an accomplishment,” Hassan noted.

Abdul Rahim Al Tayeb, Vice-Chairman, Leader Sport Group, that backed the Joma team, said: “We are delighted to have Joma win the bronze medal. This was a model experience for us and we will continue nurturing local talent in the future.”