Maradona’s Fujairah through to cup quarters

Kalba: Diego Maradona’s second tier side Fujairah progressed to the quarter-finals of the President’s Cup with a dramatic extra-time 3-2 win over top-flight Hatta in Kalba on Monday.

Despite playing with only 10-men for over an hour, after Ahmad Al Hefeit was sent off for a second bookable offence on 52 minutes, Haitham Ali popped up to score the winner on 120 minutes after both sides had been locked in a 2-2 stalemate.

 Ahmad Khalil was born ready for all challenges... We are now required to confront Al Dhafra... We will do our best to qualify to satisfy our ambition.”

Fernando Gabriel opened for Hatta from the free-kick which resulted from Al Hefeit’s sending-off on 54 minutes. Khalid Abdullah then equalised for Fujairah on the hour and Ahmad Mousa put Fujairah ahead on 75 minutes before Samuel Rosa got his second to keep Hatta in it on 89 minutes.

However, the victory went to Fujairah with Ali’s late extra-time winner leading to wild celebrations from the Argentine 1986 World Cup winner’s side.

Elsewhere, Shabab Al Ahli Dubai Club beat Al Orouba 1-0 in Ajman courtesy of a lone goal on 27 minutes from new Croatian signing Ante Erceg, who joined this week from Hadjuk Split.