Newly promoted Ittihd Kalba were denied their first win back in the AGL by Bani Yas as both sides won and converted penalties in a 1-1 draw.
Kalba, who were destroyed 5-0 by Al Wahda in their first game of the season looked to have taken all three points thanks to Danillo Bueno’s first goal for the club from the penalty spot.
They were denied victory though by Joan Verdu's spot kick half way through the second half.
Bueno had converted 24 minutes into the first 45 after Khalifa Salem Ali’s fine burst down the right induced a trip from Bani full-back Yousef Jaber.
Moments prior to Bueno’s goal the visitors could have been in front themselves had Verdu not missed his free header. Found 8-yards from goal, Verdu headed into the ground only for the ball to bounce comfortably over the Kalba crossbar.
Bani Yas were far brighter after the break but found stern resistance at every attempt they made to breakdown the defence of last year’s Division 1 champions.
They were eventually rewarded for their improvement in the 71st minute through Verdu's penalty after Haboush Saleh Habou's flicked through ball was handled in the box by Yaser Al Juneibi.
The Spaniard stepped up and sent Mohamed Salim the wrong way to restore parity and earn his side a share of the spoils.
Ten minutes later, the visiting team could have had a second penalty but the referee turned down Talib Salem Talib's calls for a penalty despite having an excellent view and initially putting his whistle to his lips. He deemed Mousa Abdulrahman Hatab to have won the ball, however, and allowed play to continue although replays showed Bani Yas players and staff were right to feel hard done by.
As a result of the outcome, both Vinicius Eutropio and Luis Garcia remain without wins as Ittihad and Bani managers respectively.
