Sport | Football
Five top clubs make shocking exit from President's Cup
Bani Yas create biggest upset of the week when they mow down defending champions Al Ahli club on a week full of thrills and suprise results.
- By Alaric Gomes, Senior Reporter
- Published: 00:34 December 1, 2008
- Muhanad Salem (right) of Fujaira in action against Jorge Valdivia of Al Ain during their President Cup clash at Al Wasl Club.
- Image Credit: Atiq-ur-Rehman/Gulf News
Dubai: The shock exit of five clubs from the fully-professional UAE Football League (UFL) is definitely the highlight as the President's Cup competition enters its quarterfinal stages.
It all started with former champions Al Wasl falling, though rightfully, to the might of Al Jazira 3-1. But the shocker of the week was when defending champions Al Ahli went down by a solitary goal to rank outsiders Bani Yas.
Two other top clubs to follow were Al Nasr - once again caving in to Al Khaleej 3-2, while Al Shaab and Ajman were among the first casualties in the very first stage of the competition.
The other eight UFL sides did well with Sharjah being the most impressive with a 6-1 drubbing of Ittihad Kalba, while Al Wahda and Al Ain also flexed their might with 4-1 and 4-0 wins against Dibba Al Hisn and Fujairah respectively.
The positive from last weekend's results was the form shown by the top contenders. Al Shabab led by an early goal to better Ras Al Khaimah 4-1 and Al Wahda came off a slow start to power their way to a 4-1 win against Dibba Al Hisn.
Playing the fag end of the match without their star striker Rafael Sobis - out with a red card - Al Jazira lived up to expectations for a 3-1 result against former champions Al Wasl.
Last week's results have thrown forward some engrossing encounters when the quarterfinals are held in the first week of February next year.
Al Shabab will have to face their nemesis Sharjah Club in the first quarterfinal, while Al Jazira will square up against Al Wahda in the second quarters in the top half of the draw.
Al Shabab had lost 2-4 to Sharjah - winners of a record seven President's Cup titles - in the UAE Football League match earlier on this season, while Al Jazira and Al Wahda had settled for a 1-1 draw in the very first week of the UFL.
In the lower half, it will be Al Dhafrah vs Al Khaleej, while Al Ain will meet Bani Yas when the quarterfinals are held on February 1 and 2.
Fixtures
Quaterfinals:
February 1 and 2
- Al Shabab vs Sharjah
- Al Jazira vs Al Wahda
- Al Dhafrah vs Al Khaleej
- Bani Yas vs Al Ain
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