Talented
Ali Karimi of Al Ahli (left) leading an attack, with a
Sharjah defender trying to stop him. Karimi scored a hat
trick yesterday. © Gulf News
GulfNews - Al Ahli
whipped Sharjah 4-1 in the President's Cup
prequarterfinals at Al Maktoum stadium in Dubai
yesterday. Al Ahli qualified to the quarters and will
meet Emarat next Sunday.
Iranian gifted striker Ali Karimi was the hero for Al
Ahli who scored a hat trick and made Sharjah defence look
helpless. Moreover, Al Ahli played with 10 men after the
referee showed red card to Mohammed Qassim in the 38th
minute following an off the ball foul by him against
Sharjah striker Razaq Farhan who was booked.
In the other matches played in the pre-quarterfinals
yesterday, Al Nasr crushed Hatta of the second division
5-0. Moroccan striker Ahmed Bahja scored a hat-trick for
Nasr in 58, 80, 89 minutes, with Issa Juma (penalty kick)
in 35, and Ali Saffar 51 completing the rout. Now, Al
Nasr will meet Ahli Fujairah in the quarterfinals of the
second division.
Emarat club defeated Al Khaleej 2-1 with a Golden Goal
scored in the extra time. Ahli Fujairah caused the
biggest upset when they beat Bani Yas 3-2, also with a
Golden Goal scored in the extra time.
Al Ahli began attacking from the first minute when Salim
Khamis and Karimi lost two scoring chances. Iraqi Razaq
Farhan responded for Sharjah with a powerful shot which
Ali Saeed the Ahli keeper turned it to the corner.
The two teams attacked each others goals with Salim
Khamis crossing the ball to Karimi near the far post, but
Sharjah defender Ibrahim Ali headed it away before it
reached Karimi's head.
Two scoring opportunities were lost by Razaq, whereby in
26 minutes his header went near the post and after one
minute his right footer beat Ali Saeed and hit the Ahli
upright.
Ali Karimi was unlucky to see his powerful shot bounced
off the cross bar with the goal wide open infront of him
in 29 minute.
Abdul Aziz Al Anbary scored first for Sharjah in 32
minute with a left foot drive that went like a bullet to
the left of Ali Saeed. Karimi soon responded after three
minutes when Rashid bin Mahmod put him through, Karimi
went past a defender and placed the ball to the left of
Tareq Mussabah Sharjah keeper.
Faisal Darwish who came in as a substitute at the start
of the second session, saw his powerful attempt saved to
the corner by Ahli custodian in 52 minute. Ali Karimi
came again through a swift attack, he went past two
defenders and crossed infront of the goal, Jasim Darwish
Sharjah defender was unlucky to clear the ball into his
own net scoring Ahli second goal in 55 minute.
Sharjah attacked through Al Assas, Razaq, Anbary, the
latter went out injured and that cost Sharjah dearly.
Ali Saeed saved Razaq's header in the last moment before
it entered in 60 minute. Sharjah defence tried to stop
Ali Karimi with all the ways, but failed, they put him
under an off side trap, but because he was fast, every
time he broke through caused panic to Sharjah defenders
and their keeper.
In 70 minute Adel Abdul Aziz of Ahli shot his the bottom
of the post and returned to the keeper. After two minutes
Ali Karimi scored the third, he went past three Sharjah
defenders and their custodian before he lobbed the ball
into the empty net.
Karimi was outstanding yesterday, he scored Ahli's fourth
with an unstoppable right footer following an excellent
cross by Salim Khamis in 77 minute. After the fourth
goal, Sharjah players were frustrated by the heavy
defeat, Faisal Darwish shot hit Ahli's cross bar in 85
minute, and his second attempt was tipped to the corner
by Ahli keeper Ali Saeed.
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