Feast of goals expose weak defence in UAE Football League

Abu Dhabi: The 10th week of the UAE Football League (UFL) was a goal festival. In six matches, 26 goals were scored to give an average of 4.33 per match.

The goals were not only a proof of the quality of good strikers but, sadly, it also reflected more on the vulnerable defence lines of the teams competing in the UFL.

A good quality striker cannot score only two goals and squander four chances in the same match or go three matches without scoring a single goal and then suddenly score four or more goals in one match. Consistency is the most important quality of a good striker.

The problems of poor defending and goalkeeping was not a new one in the UAE football. The national team has suffered many years of defending mistakes.

In the Bani Yas vs Al Ain encounter, which ended 6-1 in favour of Al Ain, Brazilian striker Emerson scored twice, both from the spot, and squandered four easy chances.

Ecuadorian Carlos Tenorio of Al Nasr scored five goals against Al Dhafrah. At the same time, he scored only four goals in six matches. It is not that both strikers are not good but the situation differ from match to match and they lack the consistency.

Al Dhafrah, for the first time this season, applied the one-line defence which made it easier for Al Nasr midfielders to break through many times and create scoring chances which Tenorio capitalised upon to score his five goals.

Meanwhile, Bani Yas stopped fighting when their defender scored an own goal, putting the result at 2-0 in favour of their opponent.

The winners of the week are Al Wahda who beat Sharjah by a solitary goal and reduced the deficit with leaders Al Jazira to two points. Al Ain consolidated their third place, while Al Ahli advanced two places to sixth. Al Nasr also advanced two places to seventh.

The final week of the first round of the UFL will commence on Friday with Al Shabab hosting Ajman and Al Jazira facing Al Wasl.