Nad Al Sheba Ramadan Championships: Warsan 11 to meet Al Joker in Futsal competition semis
Al Jawareh square off against Merghem for spot in futsal final
Dubai: Warsan 11 will meet Al Joker in the semi-finals of the futsal competition at the Nad Al Sheba Ramadan Championships being held at the Nad Al Sheba Club.
Warsan 11 maintained their unbeaten record with a 5-4 penalty shoot-out win over star-studded The Office, while Al Joker edged out fancied Jumeirah 5-4 in extra-time in the second quarter-final played late on Wednesday.
In the opening quarter-final, Jumeirah enjoyed territorial superiority and took the lead in the sixth minute through a goal from Anwar Sharrara. But Mourinho restored parity in the very next minute only to see Sameer Sameh restore the lead for Jumeirah with 15 seconds remaining until half-time.
Four minutes into the second half, Al Joker equalised for a second time through Aref Mohammad only to see Yahya Baya restore the lead for Jumeirah. Rodrigo Xavier Garacho drew the two teams level in the 33rd minute at 3-3. The Brazilian should have sealed the match with two minutes remaining after being awarded a penalty, but Garacho sent the ball wide.
However, Al Joker made amends with two quick goals in the second extra-time period through Amaro and Aref to make it 5-3. Shararra scored his second to make it 5-4, but ran out of time as Al Joker marched into the semi-finals where they will meet Warsan 11.
The second match between Warsan 11 and star-studded The Office was an engrossing affair, with both teams locked 2-2 at half-time and at full-time. The two periods of extra time failed to break the deadlock and the tie-breaker saw Al Warsan 11 secure their spot in the last four when Ahmad Abdullah sent his kick wide off the target as Al Warsan 11 won the shoot-out 5-4.
In the other two quarter-finals, Merghem thrashed PVG 8-0 thanks to a fine hat-trick from Brazilian Tiago Gabriel and Al Jawareh booked their place in the last four with a 2-1 win over Nasser Al Niyadi-led SkyDive Dubai.
Held under the patronage of Shaikh Hamdan Bin Mohammad Bin Rashid Al Maktoum, Crown Prince of Dubai and Chairman, Dubai Sports Council with a total prize fund of Dhs 7 million, the play-off for third place and final will be held at the Nad Al Sheba Club on Saturday.
