Dibba Al-Fujairah claim away victory over City in Division 1 opener
Dibba Al-Fujairah defeated City 3-1 in their first regular season match of the Division 1 campaign on Thursday, 21 August. The visitors took control with goals at 28, 38 and 61 minutes before City's D. Diambomba-Mouandza saw red in the 80th minute. The result leaves the away side third in the table with two wins from two, while the home side remain bottom after two defeats.
The match opened with City taking the lead through Edmundo in the fourth minute, a moment that suggested the hosts might set the tone. To be fair, the visitors responded quickly, with Saymon Cabral finding the net at 28 minutes to level matters. By then the game had shifted in momentum, and X. Lajthia restored Dibba's advantage at the 38-minute mark, just before half-time. A. Salviano added a fourth goal at 61 minutes, and the visitors were never truly threatened after that point.
D. Diambomba-Mouandza's dismissal in the 80th minute gave City one final chance to salvage something from the afternoon. The home side dallied on the ball in the closing stages, but Dibba's defence kept their heads and saw out the remainder without further incident. The red card came after City had already lost their grip on the contest, and it only confirmed what the scoreboard had shown for most of the match.
The statistics tell a similar story to the result. Dibba Al-Fujairah enjoyed 58 per cent possession and registered 73 attacks compared to City's 57. The visitors also won 9 corners to 1 and lined up 7 shots on target against 5 from their opponents. City's 3 yellow cards contrasted with Dibba's single booking, suggesting the home side felt the pressure more acutely.
This win extends Dibba's winning start to the season. They have won both of their matches so far and sit third with 6 points, while City's two defeats leave them in 15th place with none. The away side's recent form includes losses to Al-Ain and Ajman, but they have found a way back into good rhythm with consecutive victories.
City's opening two matches have been difficult. They lost 2-0 to Dibba-al-Hisn and 3-0 to Hatta in May, with only a 1-1 draw against Al-Fujairah offering any consolation. The result on Thursday adds to a pattern that suggests the home side will need to regroup quickly if they are to climb from the foot of the table.