Al Jazira advanced to the quarter-finals of the UAE President’s Cup after a narrow 1–0 victory over Ajman at the Mohamed Bin Zayed Stadium. The team, known as the “Pride of Abu Dhabi,” struggled initially to break through Ajman’s disciplined defensive setup, which kept them at bay for most of the contest. The breakthrough finally arrived in the 78th minute when Bono de Oliveira executed a one-two passing sequence with Vinicius Melo before firing the deciding shot into the net. Al Jazira qualified for the quarter-finals of the UAE President’s Cup after beating Ajman 1–0 at the Mohamed Bin Zayed Stadium in their round-of-16 match. The action continues on Friday with two important fixtures slated for the day. Their morale is high and they will look to carry the winning momentum into the tourney.
Al Wasl also booked their place in the next round following a dramatic 4-3 penalty shootout win against Ittihad Kalba. Thanks to a crucial performance from goalkeeper Dinko Horkas, who saved two penalties, al Wasl emerged victorious 4-3 in a penalty shootout.
The match ended in a 2-2 stalemate after regulation and extra time.
Nicolas Jimenez had initially put Al Wasl ahead in the sixth minute of first-half stoppage time with a solo effort.
Carlos Filho leveled the score for Ittihad Kalba in the 52nd minute after being set up by Saman Qaddous, and Marwan Al Watani later gave Kalba the lead in the 101st minute following a defensive mix-up. Filho then skillfully rounded him and equalized.
Defender Sofiane Bouftini forced the shootout by heading in a late equalizer for Al Wasl in the 111th minute.
Goalkeeper Dinko Horkas played a pivotal role in the victory, saving two penalties to ensure his side avoided an early tournament exit. Preventing a repeat of last season’s early exit from the tournament, his heroics propelled the “Emperor” to the quarterfinals.
Upcoming Friday Fixtures
- Fujairah vs. Al Wahda: 4:55pm kickoff.
- Al Nasr vs. Bani Yas: 8:00pm kickoff.
Al Wahda enters their match against Fujairah following a 3-2 win over Khorfakkan. Coach Preicles Chamusca highlighted the importance of discipline, noting that while they respect Fujairah’s home-field advantage, their singular focus remains on progressing. Abdullah Hamad Al Menhali echoed these sentiments, emphasizing that the team is fully prepared for the challenge. Fujairah and Al Wahda match will get under way at 4:55pm while Al Nasr meet Bani Yas in 8pm kick-off.
Fujairah coach Bulazo Bulatovic acknowledged the difficulty of the tie, expressing a desire for his squad to show character and courage. Player Sander Bin Beshir noted that the home crowd provides a vital boost for their objective of securing a positive result. Meanwhile, Al Nasr coach Milos Milojevic stressed the prestige of the President’s Cup and the need for intense motivation to overcome their opponents. Bani Yas coach Hassan Al Abdouli stated that his side approaches the game with significant ambition, focusing on team spirit and hard work rather than reputation to secure a spot in the next stage. We believe we have every chance of getting a positive result.
Important Details
- “Playing at home gives us extra boost and we hope our fans will turn out in huge number to support us,” he added.
