The great Diego Maradona rolled back the years last night in Kalba to inspire his First Division outsiders Fujairah to a stunning 3-2 extra time defeat of Hatta in the President’s Cup round-of-16.
The victory was made all the more remarkable as Fujairah played over an hour with 10-men after defender Ahmed Alhefeit was given his marching orders for a second booking on 52 minutes.
From the resulting free kick, Fernando Gabriel curled a delightful left foot shot over the wall and into the top right corner to put top-flight Hatta in front.
Marardona’s men equalised completely against the run of play when Hatta failed to clear another free kick and when the ball was crossed back in, Khaled Abdallah rose highest to nod the ball home.
Fujairah were in dreamland on 76 minutes when Ahmed Mousa pounced on a defensive error to slot the ball neatly past the keeper. But just when it seemed Fujairah were on the way to the quarter-finals, in the 89th minute Hatta somehow conjured an equaliser with Samuel Rosa collecting a rebound to fire in from 10 metres out.
The teams went to extra time with Fujairah tiring badly but in the 120th minute, with Hatta pouring forward in search of the winner, the First Division co-leaders launched a counter and won a free kick just outside the area.
The dipping drive was blocked but Haitham Ali popped up to sidefoot in the loose ball. Cue delirium in the dugout with Maradona sprinting down the sideline like he once did for La Albiceleste in his playing days.
#fujfc #MARADONA #الفجيرة
— Kashwani 🇦🇪 كشواني (@NKashwani) January 16, 2018
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Meanwhile, January addition Ante Erceg opened his account for unconvincing Shabab Al Ahli Dubai Club as they narrowly beat second-tier Al Orooba 1-0.
The $1.8 million pick-up from Croatia’s Hadjuk Split rose highest in his second game to loop a header home from promising left-back Abdulaziz Al Kaabi’s free-kick, just before the half-hour mark.
The winger also soon wasted a presentable one-on-one and had an effort cleared off the line late on as the promotion chasers hunted an equaliser.
The victory continued coach Mahdi Ali’s perfect record in the cups since he succeeded Cosmin Olaroiu last month. He will hope this inspires an opening victory in the AGL at the third time of asking on Sunday when the merged outfit host promoted Ajman.
A much-changed Shabab Al Ahli XI took to the field, Senegal centre forward Makhete Diop being afforded a rare rest. This decision saw Erceg fill in up top.
Instincts which caused him to bag an impressive 20 times in 44 league appearances for Split were on show for the only goal. Erceg was less precise when he curled wide with only the goalkeeper to beat.
Defender Mohamed Talib’s diligence at the death prevented Erceg making it 2-0. Ali’s men now await Monday’s quarter-final draw.
