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UFL second round scores success
The second round of the UFL was proof of the new approach by most clubs after the six matches yielded 24 goals.
- By Yasir Abbasher, Senior Reporter
- Published: 23:40 September 27, 2008
- Fernando Baiano (in white) of Al Jazira jumps in the air after scoring the second goal against Al Khaleej during the UFL match on Thursday at Mohammad Bin Zayed Stadium in Abu Dhabi. Al Jazira, along with Sharjah and Al Wahda, together scored 14 goals in total.
- Image Credit: Ravindranath/Gulf News
Abu Dhabi: The second round of the UFL was proof of the new approach by most clubs after the six matches yielded 24 goals.
Thanks to Al Jazira, Sharjah and Al Wahda, who together scored 14 goals, the goal average was one of the highest in the continent for the week - mainly because of the quality strikers, local and foreign, whom the clubs brought in this season. In the Al Wasl versus Al Wahda match which ended 4-2 in favour of the visitors, both custodians, Majid Nasir and Ali Rabie were outstanding.
Al Ahli was the only team who succeeded in registering two successive victories to lead the table with a full six points following wins over Al Nasr and Ajman respectively. But the team did not show their usual flair and style in their second match against Ajman despite winning 2-0.
Al Ahli have to be at their very best to continue at the top as they will face Al Wahda away in the third week on Saturday at Al Nahyan Stadium.
Al Wahda and Al Jazira who were tied 1-1 in their Derby encounter last week both won their matches and are joint second with four points each, two behind Al Ahli, and together with Al Ain and Al Dhafrah who settled for a goalless tie in their match and also collected four points apiece.
In the third week, Al Jazira will play at home against Al Wasl, 8th with 3 points, Al Ain will travel to Khor Fakkan to face bottom of the table Al Khaleej while Al Dhafrah will go to Dubai to play against defending champions Al Shabab.
Al Shabab, surprisingly, lost 4-2 to Sharjah, who lost their opener to Al Ain 4-0.
At the lower half of the standings, it was the first time in so many seasons that Al Shaab had lost both their first two matches and stayed without points for two weeks, joined by the two teams who are the guests of the elite league, Ajman and Al Khaleej.
The Al Shaab versus Al Nasr match was a chance for Merhzad Madanchi to return to his old club and when he scored for his new club, Al Nasr, he refused to celebrate.
Al Shaab will have a chance to win their first match when they visit Ajman on Saturday while Al Nasr will host Sharjah.
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