Dubai: Two draws from the first two Etisalat Pro League games against last season's second and third best teams, Bani Yas and Al Nasr, have ensured Abdul Wahab Abdul Qader's newly promoted Ajman get off to the best of starts.
Speaking after Friday's 1-1 draw away to Al Nasr on the back of a 1-1 home draw with Bani Yas, where Ebrahima Toure twice saved the day, Iraqi-Kiwi coach Qader said, "I'm very happy about the results so far — of course Bani Yas and Al Nasr played very well last season. Bani Yas fielded a strong side against us and Al Nasr was away from home, but we dealt with both situations very well. To take two points from the first two matches is important."
Injuries
With Al Nasr playing with just one of their four foreigners (Leo Lima) after injuries to Mark Bresciano and Carlos Tenorio, plus a suspension for Esmail Bangoura, the home side couldn't hang on to their 16th minute lead from Hussain Ebrahim, with Toure cancelling it out on the stroke of time with a header.
"Considering Al Nasr was playing without their key players, we sought to take advantage. We made substitutions towards the end to change formation and press on the defence and get the ball forward but Al Nasr played well," said Qader, who led Ajman to promotion from the second division last season by winning the championship.
"We thought we could have won the game; after Al Nasr got their goal we played very well to fight to win the match. We started to play as we are used to with the long ball but we didn't get it in the box enough. We feel lucky to have got the equaliser when we did."
This week's matches
Al Nasr coach Walter Zenga, said of the draw, which followed last week's 2-0 loss to Al Ain: "All my players are sad in the locker room but they needn't be upset. They must concentrate on their work. They were very close to winning, but this is football. We have to check everything to understand why."
This week Al Nasr face Al Wahda at home on Saturday and Ajman play Al Wasl at home on Friday. Kick-off is 6.30pm for both.
