Sharjah down Khorfakkan, Bani Yas win

Gulf Today, Staff Reporter

Khorfakkan went 3-1 down to visiting Sharjah who seem to have put the international halt to perfect use as they clearly outshone their rivals away from home in the tenth round of Pro League match as the tournament returned into action following a lengthy international break.

The guests snatched the lead in the 16th minute through Marcus Meloni who found himself in a very special position inside the box as a result of a smart execution of a corner kick taken by Bernard, before the fired the ball into Khorfakkan's net.

Eight minutes later Sharjah affirmed their superiority with another goal from Congolese Ben Malango who had received a perfect ground cross from Seif Rashif before his deflected shot found the back of the net.

Khorfakkan seemed different in the second half and placed the visitors under much pressure until they bounced back with a goal from Paulo Victor de Menezes in the 58th minute to maintain their hopes for a strong come back.

Having realized how dangerous Korfakkan can be, Sharjah started to get their act together and attack Khorfakkan to seal their victory, which they could do with a late third goal from Otabek Shukurov in the 81st minute.

Players of Bani Yas and Al Orooba vie for the ball during their match.

With this win, Sharjah climbed back to sixth place in the table, one point clear of Khorfakkan who fell to seventh on 15 points following their defeat.

Bani Yas have hosted Al Orooba in one of the early fixtures of the tenth round where the hosts could seal a 2-0 victory that saw them earn their 12th point this season, whereas Al Orooba's four-point tally remained the same after conceding their sixth defeat of their campaign.

Bani Yas Ahmed Abunamous opened the scoring four minutes into the game with a powerful header after Baniyas had been awarded a free-kick in a very dangerous spot on the left flank.

Bani Yas hoped they could put the game to bed in its first half, and their continuous efforts paid off when the Argentine Nicolás Giménez managed to double the lead in the 23rd minute from a perfectly executed set peace he swerved into the left corner of the guests' net.

Despite attempts from both sides, neither team was able to find the back of the net in the second half as Bani Yas earned three vital points while Al Orooba's wounds have been deepened with another defeat.