Bani Yas continue dream run with Al Dhafra win to keep second spot
Club promoted to the UFL for first time have 17 points from eight outings with only one defeat
Abu Dhabi: Bani Yas is living a dream in the UAE Football League (UFL) since their promotion from the lower division at the start of the season.
While usually the dreams of promoted teams to stay on for more seasons on top flight remain mere dreams, Bani Yas are now at the second place in the standings with 17 points from 8 matches after beating Al Dhafrah by a single goal on Saturday.
Senegalese Andre Singhore scored an early goal in the second minute and his team succeeded in defending the lead till the end.
Their custodian Mohammad Ali Golom saved a penalty kick from Abdullah Cisse in the 42nd minute after Bani Yas defender Hassan Zahran fouled Al Dhafrah strike Hamad Abdul Rahman. Zahran was sent off but Al Dhafrah failed to find the equaliser against the ten-man Bani Yas team.
True worth
"It was more than a sweet dream," Saleh Esmail, the team's former captain and manager, told Gulf News on Sunday.
"Our results are beyond our dreams and I believe the players have proved their true worth as one of the best teams in the competition.
"There are no secrets. Our technical staff, headed by Lutfi Al Banzarti, know the real capabilities of our players and plan suitably. We have good young players who are hungry for success and that made them determined to do their best in all the matches.
"Losing only one match in eight is a great feat and we are proud of it. I believe we can book a place in the Asian Champions League next year if we continue to play like this till the end of the season," Esmail said.
The top four teams of the UFL take part in the ACL.
Meanwhile, Al Dhafrah remain at ten points, which complicates matters for the team that started the season with a better reputation.
"We missed all our chances even from the penalty spot," Ahmad Omran Al Qubaisi, the supervisor of the team, said. "We deserved to win at least one point from a draw but it was bad luck that denied us any point.
"Our team played well but they lacked concentration inside the opponent's penalty box. I am confident that our players will do better in our remaining matches and we are not scared of relegation because we can survive as we proved last season," Al Qubaisi said.
