Al Shabab drift further away from top with loss to Dubai

Sport360 staff 12:44 29/03/2014
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  • Spot on: Yapo (c) converted penalty.

    Gilles Yapi Yapo’s second-half penalty earned Dubai a first-ever win over Al Shabab, with their 1-0 victory putting a severe dent in their city rivals’ title ambitions.

    Shabab were already playing catch-up to leaders Al Ahli but they are now nine points behind the Red Knights with just five games remaining.

    The only goal of the game at the Dubai Sports & Cultural Club arrived from the spot in the 47th minute after Mohammed Marzooqwas penalised for a trip on Waleed Khalid and Yapi Yapo did the rest from 12 yards.

    The visitors were unable to find a way back into the contest and their evening took a turn for the worst as both Esam Dhahi and Abdulla Eissa were shown red cards with just over two minutes left.

    “We will continue to play hard and see what the future has instore for us,” Shabab coach Marcos Paqueta said.

    Dubai’s victory was the club’s first in 12 attempts in the league – their last coming back on December 4 against Ajman.

    It was also the first since Junior dos Santos assumed the coaching role from Umberto Barberis earlier this month and leaves them four points from safety.

    “We have some very good players and this team deserves to be among the top four or five in the league, not at the bottom of the points table,” the Brazilian coach said.

    “I have told this to the players as well. I told them we have seven matches remaining and we will have to play beyond our abilities in these matches to remain in the top division.

    “Now we have five matches remaining and our target is to fight hard and try to win each one of those matches.”

    In the day’s other game, Ajman pulled themselves well clear of the danger zone with a 4-2 win at Al Dhafra.

    Bakari Kone struck an early goal for the Orange Brigade, and after Makhete Diop and Kamel Chafni had scored for the hosts, Ajman secured victory with goals from Waleed Ahmed, Boris Kabi and Mansour Abbas

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