Diarra, Olivier star in wins for Emirates and Ajman

Abu Dhabi: Modibo Diarra and Tia Olivier led Emirates and Ajman respectively to crucial victories yesterday in the 12th week of Etisalat Pro League action.

Diarra continued his brilliant form which he started on his debut against Al Wahda last week, scoring twice and creating the third for Al Hassan Keita in a 4-2 victory over Dubai on the road.

Mohsin Mutwalli scored the fourth while Camara and Hassan Abdul Rahman netted for the home team.

The win saw Emirates vacate bottom spot at the expense of Dubai after increasing their tally to seven points, although both teams still occupy the relegation zone.

Early goals

In Abu Dhabi, Bani Yas lost to visitors Ajman 2-1 with Olivier scoring two early goals in three minutes to all but kill the game.

The first came in the fifth minute and the second in the eighth as Ajman moved up to eighth with 15 points, Bani Yas in ninth with 13.

Andre Senghor scored the home team's goal in the 14th minute following a blunder from visiting goalkeeper Ali Rabie, who made amends by saving dangerous attempts from Senghor, Nawaf Mubarak, Fawzi Bashir and Saleh Al Minhali.

The victory was sweet for Ajman's coach, Abdul Wahab Abdul Gadir, who spent a record seven years coaching Bani Yas in the 1990s, leading them to President's Cup glory in the 1991-92 season, their only big domestic success.