Yeste double helps Bani Yas to win

Dubai: Francisco Yeste scored a brace to secure a 2-1 win for his new club Bani Yas against Al Nasr while Al Ahli helped themselves to an identical 2-1 win against neighbours Al Shabab in eighth round action of the etisalat Cup here late on Thursday.

Yeste’s goals in the 54th and 88th minutes were enough to see Group B strugglers Bani Yas stay rooted in fourth position with 11 points, while Al Ahli’s win enabled them to climb into second place ahead of Ajman with 14 points to their credit.

In what was a drab encounter between Al Nasr and Bani Yas, it was only in the 39th minute that the home side broke the deadlock as Jamal Abdullah placed past Bani Yas goalkeeper Mohammad Khalaf after receiving a clever flick from Younus Abdullah inside the box.

The home team could have doubled the score two minutes from half-time when a strong run from Amara Diane came to an abrupt end outside the box and the resultant free kick crashed against the defensive wall.

Yeste, who was brought in by Al Wasl with much fanfare last season, got the first of his goals in the 54th minute when he strode in at the top of the box and sent in a stiff left-footer past Al Nasr goalkeeper Ahmad Al Shambieh.

After the equalizer both had their fair share of chances on goal with Al Nasr relying more on the counters in a search of the winner. But it was Yeste who crashed their party two minutes from the end - this time scoring from nearly the same spot to earn his a well-deserved three points.

• Results:
• Bani Yas bt Al Nasr 2-1
• Al Ahli bt Al Shabab 2-1