Argentina icon Diego Maradona could not work his magic from the dugout as his lower-league Fujairah were beaten 4-2 by powerhouse Al Ain in the President’s Cup quarter-finals.
The tie of the round pitted the ambitious First Division League-outfit against the Arabian Gulf League’s champions-elect. A fitting contest followed on Thursday at Shabab Al Ahli Dubai Club Stadium Al Aweer.
Maradona’s men – who are in the chase for automatic promotion back to the top flight for the first time since 2015/16 – took a shock eighth-minute lead through promising forward Mohamed Khalfan’s smart finish from a one-on-one. A response followed before the half-hour mark when prolific UAE striker Ahmed Khalil nodded home a bouncing ball for his sixth goal in purple.
The second followed for the Boss less than a minute later when Hussein El Shahat’s cross was critically deflected by veteran defender Hassan Ameen. The Egypt forward then definitely got his name on the score sheet before half-time when he superbly controlled and half-volleyed at the back stick.
Defender Khaled Abdullah gave the Wolves hope when he tucked in from a goal-mouth scramble shortly after the interval to make it 3-2. But the contest was taken away from them in second-half injury time when Brazilian forward Caio rounded goalkeeper Saleh Sadeq and placed into an open net.
Egypt forward Hussein El Shahat celebrates against Fujairah (UAE FA).
