Ajman leave it late to secure dramatic first win of the season over Kalba

Barnaby Read 19:11 18/10/2014
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  • Hard fought: Ajman (orange) just edged Kalba.

    The Arabian Gulf League's bottom two met at the Kalba Union Sports & Cultural Club Stadium on Saturday afternoon as Ajman Club earned a late 3-2 win over the home side in a highly entertaining encounter.

    A well balanced, end-to-end match was swung in the home team’s favour thanks to Wael Ayan’s 25-yard effort with thirty minutes to play. But Ajman showed tremendous spirit to firstly level things up at 2-2 and then go on to secure victory late in the game.

    First Haddaf Abdulla equalised with seven minutes left before the same player twisted and turned in the Kalba box, inviting a penalty which skipper Boris Kabi converted for his second of the game to earn Ajman the three points.

    Kalba thought they had the lead in the 19th minute when the Ajman ‘keeper parried a long range effort into Khalifa Salem Ali’s path to slot home from ten yards. Ali’s celebrations were cut short by the linesman’s raised flag, the winger marginally offside.

    Kalba and Ali didn’t have to wait too long to gain the lead, however. The diminutive wide-man’s strike after 33 minutes handing his team the initiative, albeit under controversial circumstances.

    Arriving at the back post, Ali took advantage of Ali Mesmari’s poorly judged efforts to collect a Kalba cross, leaving his goal gaping for Ali to tap home. He duly obliged but replays seem to suggest that Mubarak Hassan’s clearance was made before the whole ball crossed the line.

    The home team’s advantage lasted just three minutes. Kabi finishing a free-flowing move nine minutes before half-time to keep his team in the contest in superb fashion.

    Ayan’s superb effort an hour into proceedings seemed to have handed Kalba the victory that would have taken them off the foot of the table only for the visitors to strike twice at the death.

    Haddaf Abdulla, a second half substitute, proved the difference as the game wore on. His leveller was sublime and his boldness late on ultimately won his side a blatant penalty with four minutes remaining.

    Kabi was the picture of calm as he sent Mohamed Osman Barout the wrong way from the resulting penalty. The Ivorian now has six AGL goals to his name already and is only bettered by Jazira’s Mirko Vucinic (10) in the goal-scoring charts.

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