Sharjah: Leader Sport edged past Al Bayan 4-3 in a thriller while Khalid Al Obaidli thumped in four goals as Rich Target thrashed Wasit 6-2 in the junior competition on the opening night of the Sharjah Ramadan Football Championship (SRFC) on Friday.

The tournament, being held under the patronage of Shaikh Sultan Bin Mohammad Bin Sultan Al Qasimi, Crown Prince and Deputy Ruler of Sharjah, began with a spectacular opening ceremony in the presence of Shaikh Sultan Bin Ahmad Al Qasimi, Chairman of Sharjah Media Council; Shaikh Saqr Bin Mohammad Al Qasimi, Chairman of Sharjah Sports Council; Dr. Khalid Omar Al Midfa, Chairman of Sharjah Media City, and Mohammad Hassan Khalaf, Director of Sharjah Media Council, among others.

Young Khalid Al Obaidli hogged the limelight, topscoring with four goals, as Rich Target swamped Wasit 6-2 in the opening match of the under-14 competition. Al Obaidli opened the score in the third minute before Rashid Darwish equalised for Wasit two minutes later. The reprieve was short-lived as Al Obaidli got his second and then completed a hat-trick in the eleventh minute.

Saif Al Hammadi made it 4-1 at the end of the first half. Ali Abdul Qader got his name on the scoresheet for Rich Target, while Mohammad Ahmad pulled back another for Wasit only to see Al Obaidli add a fourth to complete the thrashing.

Moroccan Sofian Al Mesrar scored a brace to lead Leader Sport to a tight 4-3 win over Al Bayan. Al Mesrar put Leader Sport ahead in the sixth minute only to see Al Bayan equalise and take the lead through Ahmad Al Suwaidi. But Leader Sport went off tied 2-2 on Bilal Baqali’s goal.

Al Mesrar scored his second on eleven minutes in the second half and Baqali added a fourth immediately for a 4-2 cushion. But Al Bayan’s Spanish professional Leman Lecor managed to pull one back and then ran out of time.

Organised by Sharjah Sports Channel for the third consecutive year, the two-week tournament features 16 senior teams playing in a four-group knockout competition, and four Under-14 sides at the Sharjah Sports Club’s indoor stadium.

The SRFC 2018 has cash prizes totalling Dh500,000 with the winner of the senior competition receiving Dh200,000 while the junior tournament winners will receive Dh50,000.