RESULT: Al Dhafra 1 (Diane 65′) Sharjah 0
Amara Diane started to repay the faith shown in him by Al Dhafra with the only goal in their Quartet Tournament match against Sharjah in Al Ain.
The Ivory Coast forward began and finished the game’s decisive move in the 65th minute to ensure the club that finished fourth in Division One last season got off to a winning start in their bid to reach the expanded Pro League.
Sharjah’s best chance fell to Marcelinho at the end of the first half but he was unable to find the net with Dhafra ‘keeper Abdul Baset stranded.
Indeed the side who finished bottom of the Pro League last term were fortunate not to concede a late penalty as substitute Shaheen Abdulla clattered into Abdulla Abdul Hardy.
With former UAE captain Abdulsalam Jumaa a calming influence on a Dhafra side featuring NINE new signings and the Western Region club soon showed their attacking intent.
Indeed they produced perhaps the best chance of the first half in the seventh minute as left-back Saif Mohammed measured a cross from the left that found an unmarked Makhete Diop just six yards out. The Senegalese striker was unable to find the net though as Mohammed Yousif got down well to tip his header around the post.
Sharjah hit their opponents immediately on the break, Marcelinho striking an upright with a flicked header. Their best hope of a goal looked to be on the break, and Ladzar Hadj Aissa almost took advantage as Ghanaian midfielder Moussa Narry bundled his way to the byline. The Algerian playmaker could only shoot straight at Abdul Baset though.
Diane was enjoying a quiet start to life in a Dhafra shirt following his summer switch from Al Nasr but his first meaningful contribution almost paid dividends as he released the lively Mahmoud Awadh down the left. The winger’s pace took him into the Sharjah box but as Yousif came out he rolled the ball agonisingly across the six-yard box and too far in front of the chasing Diop.
And the Western Region side should have been made to pay with nine minutes of the half to go as Narry strode through midfield before unleashing a drive that Baset did well to tip onto the bar. The Dhafra ‘keeper lost his bearings as the ball came back off the woodwork, but Marcelinho could only toe-poke over as he followed up.
Second half
The second period was played to much the same tempo as the first but after Narry had flashed another effort over the bar, Dhafra began to take a firmer grip on proceedings.
First Diop was unable to make the most of Mahmoud Awadh’s delightful chipped through ball as he fired wide from the angle before his knockdown on the hour mark found Abdulla, with the midfielder picking out Yousif.
Dhafra’s pressure told in the 65th minute though, and their goal owed much to the industry of Diane. The former Nasr forward picking up the ball deep before helping release Hamad Rage Al Ahbabi whose cross he headed home.
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