Dubai: Hot favourites Shaikh Rashid Bin Ammar team will take on hosts Dubai Police, while Arsenal will play Fohood in the semi-finals of the Fifth Maktoum Bin Rashid Ramadan Football Championship being held at the Dubai Police Officers Club.
Unbeaten throughout the preliminary rounds, the Shaikh Rashid Bin Ammar team edged out Commandos 2-1, while Dubai Police brought an end to the Blue Wave surge with a 5-2 result.
Fohood were at the best scoring two goals on either side of half-time for a comprehensive 4-0 thrashing of Say No To Drugs, while Arsenal kept up to their pre-tournament tag with a 5-2 win over Al Forsan.
The match of the night was the one involving Shaikh Rashid Bin Ammar team and Commandos. With both playing some fast-paced football it was the Commandos who opened the scoring when Jassim Al Nuaimi scored from close range. The Shaikh Rashid team pressed hard for the equaliser, but the Commandos kept their superior opponents at bay to go in for the half-time with their narrow lead.
However, Faiz Juma finally managed to put the two teams on level terms when he scored midway through the second half. And the nippy striker struck a second time three minutes from the final whistle to give the Ajman side a well-deserved win.
Sponsored by Inkas Vehicles LLC under the patronage of Shaikh Zayed Bin Maktoum Bin Rashid Al Maktoum, this year’s competition consists of indoor rowing, cross fit, Mas-Wrestling, running races, bowling and the football tournament, with total prizemoney of Dh1 million.
After Friday’s semi-finals, the teams will take a one-day break before the battle for third place and the final on July 6.
