Khorfakkan earn last-gasp draw with Bani Yas in six-goal thriller

Gulf Today

14-05-2025

Tarik Tissoudali scored a stoppage-time equalizer to earn Khorfakkan a deserved 3-3 draw in a cracking Matchweek 24 games against Bani Yas on Monday.
It was a crazy game with a six-goal thriller at Bani Yas Stadium, as the drama lasted until the very last whistle.
Youssoufou Niakate fired Bani Yas in front twelve minutes into the game after he was found unmarked inside the penalty area. Lazar Markovic threaded the ball through to Niakate, who slotted the ball into the back of the net.
Kayque Soares Campos quickly restored the parity for the visitors four minutes later after timing his run perfectly to head in Abdulla Alkarbi's pinpoint cross.
The Malian forward restored the lead for Bani Yas before the break as he netted a spectacular solo goal in the 38th minute, carving through the middle of the field before firing the ball into the bottom corner. He has been involved in Bani Yas' last eight goals, scoring seven and producing an assist.
The hosts started the second half fiercely to secure the three points, and Lazar Markovic doubled their advantage two minutes before the hour-mark with a spectacular sublime strike that smashed the top corner.
The match kept on delivering drama as substitute Cheickna Doumbia halved the deficit and pulled one back after poking in the rebound at the hour-mark.
Khorfakkan kept pressing for the level, and Tarik Tissoudali scored at the death after successfully converting from a penalty spot.
The result means Bani Yas sit eleventh with 26 points, while Khorfakkan are eighth with 33 points.
Elsewhere, two first-half goals and another one in the second half helped Al Ain defeat Sharjah 3-0 on Monday.
Al Ain killed the game from the first half by scoring two goals and netting another one in the dying moments of the second half.
The victory led Al Ain temporarily to the fourth spot with 40 points, while Sharjah remained second with 45 points.
Soufian Rahimi put Al Ain ahead after 33 minutes with a magnificent chip over the onrushing goalkeeper Khaled Tawhid.
Five minutes into the first half's stoppage time, Laba Kodjo successfully stroked the ball into the bottom corner from the spot to double Al Ain's advantage. The Togolese striker equaled Caio Lucas as the top goalscorer of both clubs' encounters with eight goals.
Maro Katinic was shown a red card in the 74th minute due to a foul on Matias Palacios.
Mohamed Awad made it 3-0 in the dying moments after picking up the ball inside the box and steered it into the bottom corner to seal the victory.
Meanwhile, Facundo Daniel's 53rd-minute header and Omar Khribin's 90th-minute goal were the difference in Al Wahda's 2-0 comfortable win over Dibba Al Hisn at Saqr Bin Mohammad al Qassimi Stadium.
It means that Dibba Al Hisn have officially relegated to the second division, accompanying Al Orooba.
It was a cagy first half between both clubs, ending in a goalless draw as Daniel scored the first goal seven minutes before the hour-mark and Omar Khribin doubled their advantage in the 90th minute.
The result left Al Wahda third with 44 points, while Dibba Al Hisn remained 13th with 16 points.
The first spotlight of the game was stolen in the 53rd minute when Facundo Daniel timed his run perfectly to head in Ruben Filipe's cross to be involved in seven goals in the last nine games for Al Wahda as his he scored seven headed goals out of 17.
Following great teamwork from Al Wahda's players ended with the Syrian international Khribin steering the ball into the top corner in the 90th minute.
Meanwhile, the UAE Pro League organized a technical workshop, in Dubai to discuss proposed updates and improvements for the upcoming 2025–2026 football season.
The workshop was attended by UAE Pro League's Board Member, Chairman of the Technical Committee, Hassan Taleb Al Marri, and Musab Al Marzooqi, Acting CEO, in addition to representatives from all 14 professional clubs.