Al Ahli came from behind to beat Emarat club 3-2 at Rashid Stadium yesterday. With this win Al Ahli moved into fourth place with eight points. Emarat are now in the tenth place with four points.
Moroccan Musstafa Musstawda opened the account for Emarat in the eighth minute. Musstafa's shot bounced off the Al Ahli keeper Hasan Shah, and the Moroccan headed the rebound into the empty net.
Al Ahli went on the attack after Emarat had scored. Hasan Abbas levelled for Ahli in the 18th minute with a quick low shot to the right of Emarat custodian Abdullah Hassan, to make it 1-1.
Al Ahli pressed on, looking for more goals, but Yousuf Ateq, Mohammed Juma, Issa Murad lost many scoring opportunities. Salim Meftah of Emarat sent a low ball which the Al Ahli keeper saved at the last moment for a corner. Again Meftah lost another chance when he shot over the cross bar.
However the most easy scoring chance came to Salim Meftah in the last minute of the first half when the referee ordered a penalty kick for Emarat after Jasim Akbar was brought down inside the box by Mustafa Musstawda. Meftah squandered the spot kick, when the ball hit the upright and went out.
After the break, Emarat came out with all guns firing. Musstawda beat many Alhi defenders before he passed to Salim Meftah who compensated for the lost penalty kick by scoring the second for Emarat in the 53rd minute. Meftah's shot went to the right of Hasan Shah into the far corner of the net.
After two minutes Rashed Mahmood scored the equaliser for Ahli when he advanced inside the Emarat penalty area, and scored off a of the keeper. The ball bounced in front of him which he headed into the empty net.
In the 60th minute, Ahli defender Abdullatif Jrindo scored the winner for Ahli with a powerful shot from 30 metres. The ball took a deflection and went to the left of the Emarat keeper.
Musstafa Musstawda of Emarat tried hard with his country man Musstafa Khalif looking for the elusive equaliser. Mohammed Abu Al Saffared lost a good chance when he went through towards the Al Ahli goal, but lost control. Musstawda lost a good chance when he headed near the post from close range.
In the 81st minute Jasim Akbar of Al Ahli was shown the red card for a rough tackle on Musstawda. Musstawda responded by hitting him, but the referee failed to penalise him.