Sport | Football
Sixth week of league action starts today
The sixth week of the first professional league starts on Tuesday with all six matches to be played.
- By Sayed Ali, Senior Reporter
- Published: 00:11 November 11, 2008
Dubai: The sixth week of the first professional league starts on Tuesday with all six matches to be played.
The teams did not take sufficient rest after the fifth week matches last Friday.
The UAE Football League decided to play all six matches today to give time for the national team to start preparing for the Iran match in the World Cup qualifiers on November 19.
The UAEFL tournaments committee decided to start the second matches at 8.15pm instead of 8pm. The previous timing was clashing with the end of the first match, which starts at 6pm. Last week the Al Wasl vs Al Ahli match began at 8pm while the other matches, which started at 6pm, were still on.
Sharjah host Al Jazira today in the emirate in a tough clash with the two teams looking for victory. The home team are eighth in the league standings with six points from five matches. Last week they lost 2-3 to Al Wahda.
Sharjah midfielder Ahmad Dhiya will be absent on Tuesday due to a one-match ban after picking three yellow cards. Brazilian Jan Carlos and Khamis Ahmad will return as well.
Al Jazira, under Brazilian coach Abel Braga, will also be looking to clinch three points to keep pace with the leaders. They are now third with 10 points. Al Jazira struggled last week to beat lowly Al Shaab in the last minutes. Brazilians Rafael Sobis and Fernando Baiano along with Ebrahim Diake will be the players to watch on Tuesday.
Al Ain host Ajman in a match the home side will be looking to compensate the two points they lost at Al Nasr last week when they were forced to a 2-2 draw. That draw cost them the top place and forced them to settle for second with 11 points, one behind new leaders Al Ahli.
Al Ain will miss striker Andre Diaz, who was suspended for two matches after he took part in the fight at the end of the last match against Al Nasr.
Ajman, the newcomer from the second division, are doing well so far. They are in seventh place with seven points. Iranians Ali Samerah and Jawad Qazimian will lead their front line against a strong Al Ain defence, who conceded two goals in five matches.
Al Jazira, under Brazilian coach Abel Braga, will also be looking to clinch three points to keep pace with the leaders.
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