Abdallah’s own goal gifts Al Bahri a 2-1 win over the 2017 champions, while MKS sizzle in 5-0 win over The Emperor

Dubai, UAE, May 29, 2018:  Defending champions Al Taher made an inauspicious start to their Nad Al Sheba Futsal Championship campaign on Monday night as Ahmad Abdallah’s own goal in the final seconds of the match gifting Al Bahri a 2-1 win.

In the other matches of NAS Futsal’s opening night, MKS announced themselves as strong contenders for the title with a dominant 5-0 win over last year’s runners-up The Emperor, while The Storm edged Dmani Water 6-5.

Al Taher should have been on the winner’s list as well given their domination of the match, but they paid for their profligacy in front of the goal. The defending champions dictated play from the start, but Al Bahri, absorbing all the pressure, took a surprise lead when Hamad Al Shamsi scored on the counter in the 17th minute.

Al Bahri went into the break with their lead intact, but Abdulla Al Muhairi managed to break their resistance in the opening minute of the second half to level the scores. Al Taher, however, failed to get a second, and the missed opportunities came back to haunt them when Ahmad Abdallah deflected one into his own net with only five seconds remaining on the clock.

Unlike Al Taher, however, MKS had few problems finding the back of the net against The Emperor, with Khalid Mohammed Harib opening the scores in the 5th minute. Two minutes later, The Emperor’s Hamdan Al Katheeri was sent off for his tackle on Brazilian Geverson, and MKS took advantage of their greater numbers, with Spaniard Pol Gonzalez making it 2-0 in the 8th minute and Geverson adding a third three minutes later.

Fighting back from those early reversals, The Emperor went on the offensive and created a number of opportunities, but MKS goalkeeper Youssef Murad did well to deny them. 

At the other end, Gonzalez showed magical footwork to score MKS’s fourth in the 13th minute, while Geverson took advantage of The Emperor’s advancing goalkeeper to score his second of the night two minutes from time.

WHEELCHAIR BASKETBALL

In the NAS Wheelchair Basketball Championship, being held at Dubai Club for People of Determination, Public Prosecution defeated Dubai Police 18-16 to move to the top of Group A, while Dubai Municipality drubbed RTA (Roads and Transport Authority) 63-20 to take the lead in Group B.

In the other matches, Dubai Corporation for Ambulance Services defeated Dubai Health Authority 20-14, while Dewa (Dubai Electricity and Water Authority) cruised to a 46-8 win over JK Sports.

“We have reached the final of the past three editions, but have been unfortunate not to win the title,” said Habib Abdulmajeed Al Balooshi, the captain of the Public Prosecution team. “So this year, we have a great desire to not just reach the final, but to win the title as well.

“This victory over Dubai Police should really give our team a huge boost moving forward, especially since Dubai Police are a really strong side with a number of players from the national team in their ranks, alongside Egyptian professional Ashraf Au Zaid, who has been the top scorer in the last two editions of the tournament.”

RESULTS
FUTSAL: The Storm beat Dmani Water 6-5 (Group A); MKS beat The Emperor 5-0 (Group B); Al Bahri beat Al Taher 2-1 (Group C).

WHEELCHAIR BASKETBALL
Group A: Public Prosecution beat Dubai Police 18-16; Dewa beat JK Sports 46-8.
Group B: Dubai Municipality beat RTA 63-20; Dubai Corporation for Ambulance Services beat DHA 20-14.

PADEL TENNIS: Mohammed Ahmad Ahli and Abdulla Ahmad Ahli beat Khalid Al Ateyat and Jalal Ismail Sharif 2-0 (6-0, 6-1); SHM beat Padel Pro C 2-0.