Baniyas SC 2:4 Al Ain: Pro League Match Result

Match report

Al-Ain came from behind to beat Baniyas 4-2 in the opening match of the Pro-League regular season on Saturday. The visitors had the upper hand from the first whistle, though Baniyas took the lead twice before half-time. By then the match was already tilting Al-Ain's way, and they never looked back once N. Djekovic saw red.

Y. Niakate gave the hosts the surprise at the 15-minute mark, and he added a second just before the break. And here's the thing — Al-Ain should have levelled earlier. G. Giakoumakis had a goal disallowed for offside in the 32nd minute, and the visitors got their reward at the death of the half when S. Rahimi converted a penalty. Baniyas still led 2-1 at the break, but the momentum had shifted.

The second half belonged to Al-Ain. Three changes at the interval brought fresh legs, and they made them count. N. Djekovic's dismissal in the 74th minute cut Baniyas to ten men and sealed their fate. E. H. Rahimi opened his account in the 81st minute before adding a second in stoppage time, and Kaku rounded off the scoring at 90+10.

To be fair, Baniyas were not entirely passive. They registered five shots on target and created one big chance, but the numbers tell a different story. Al-Ain dominated possession at 72 per cent and generated 106 attacks compared to 49. Their expected goals figure of 3.68 against Baniyas's 0.92 says everything about the quality of chances created.

The hosts remain winless after three matches, sitting 12th on zero points. Al-Ain have made a perfect start, four wins from four, and top the table on 12 points. The gap is already significant, and Baniyas will need a serious turnaround to keep pace. This was a statement from the visitors — not just a result, but a pattern.

Prepared from match data

Key numbers

Possession, % 28.00 – 72

Shots on target 5 – 15

Shots off target 2 – 7

Expected goals 0.92 – 3.68

⚽ 15' Y. Niakate — Goal 32' G. Giakoumakis — var_goal_cancelled 🟨 37' R. Marciano — Yellow card ⚽ 42' Y. Niakate — Goal ⚽ 45+2' S. Rahimi — Penalty ⇄ 59' G. Giakoumakis — Substitution ⇄ 59' Erik Menezes — Substitution ⇄ 59' V. Lazaro — Substitution 62' E. H. Rahimi — var_goal_cancelled ⇄ 71' A. Koroma — Substitution 🟥 74' N. Djekovic — Red card ⇄ 78' R. Rabia — Substitution ⇄ 78' R. Marciano — Substitution ⇄ 78' Y. Niakate — Substitution ⚽ 81' E. H. Rahimi — Goal 🟨 83' K. Al Hammadi — Yellow card 🟨 84' J. Awoute — Yellow card ⇄ 87' K. Al Hammadi — Substitution ⇄ 90+1' A. K. Traore — Substitution ⚽ 90+7' E. H. Rahimi — Goal ⚽ 90+10' Kaku — Goal

Match events

15' 1:0 Baniyas SC Goal Y. Niakate assist: A. Koroma
32' 1:0 Al Ain var_goal_cancelled G. Giakoumakis
37' 1:0 Baniyas SC Yellow card R. Marciano
42' 2:0 Baniyas SC Goal Y. Niakate assist: A. Koroma
45+2' 2:1 Al Ain Penalty S. Rahimi
59' 2:1 Al Ain Substitution G. Giakoumakis off: E. H. Rahimi
59' 2:1 Al Ain Substitution Erik Menezes off: R. Rodrigues
59' 2:1 Al Ain Substitution V. Lazaro off: J. Santos
62' 2:1 Al Ain var_goal_cancelled E. H. Rahimi
71' 2:1 Baniyas SC Substitution A. Koroma off: L. Verde
74' 2:1 Baniyas SC Red card N. Djekovic
78' 2:1 Al Ain Substitution R. Rabia off: B. Bello Ilou
78' 2:1 Baniyas SC Substitution R. Marciano off: K. Al Mansoori
78' 2:1 Baniyas SC Substitution Y. Niakate off: G. Saviour
81' 2:2 Al Ain Goal E. H. Rahimi assist: R. Rodrigues
83' 2:2 Baniyas SC Yellow card K. Al Hammadi
84' 2:2 Baniyas SC Yellow card J. Awoute
87' 2:2 Baniyas SC Substitution K. Al Hammadi off: S. Al Menhali
90+1' 2:2 Al Ain Substitution A. K. Traore off: Hazim Mohammad
90+7' 2:3 Al Ain Goal E. H. Rahimi assist: S. Rahimi
90+10' 2:4 Al Ain Goal Kaku

Statistics

28.00 Possession, % 72

5 Shots on target 15

2 Shots off target 7

0.92 Expected goals 3.68

1 Big chances 3

49 Attacks 106

2 Corners 19

10 Fouls 11

11 Free kicks 10

0 Offsides 4

3 Yellow cards 0

1 Red cards 0

14 Goal kicks 3

20 Throw-ins 18

All statistics

16/3053% Aerial duels 14/3047%

31 Backward passes 61

2 Blocked shots 8

55 Clearances 11

1/1010% Crosses 12/5024%

4/757% Dribbles 1/520%

0.43 Expected assists 3.52

69 Failed passes 66

11 Goalkeeper saves 3

6 Interceptions 13

7 Key passes 22

17/5531% Long passes 33/5560%

26 Passes into the final third 169

127 Passes in the opposition half 407

86 Passes in own half 140

0.56 Shot accuracy 0.50

4 Shots inside the box 20

5/683% Tackles 8/8100%

203 Total passes 497

Recent form

Baniyas SC

LLLLDW

Recent matches

All team matches

Al Ain

WWWDWL