Shabab Al-Ahli defeated Al-Dhafra 2-0 in the Pro-League's Regular Season round 2 on Friday. The hosts took three points from their third game of the campaign, while the visitors remain winless after three defeats.
And here's the thing — the match was largely defined by two second-half moments. Yuri Cesar opened the scoring in the 71st minute before I. Gomes added a second in the 88th. Earlier, S. Kaba had a penalty saved in stoppage time of the first half, a missed opportunity that shaped the remainder of the contest.
The yellow cards tell their own story of a physical encounter. Mateus Henrique went off in the 20th minute after a booking, replaced by Mateusao at half-time. By then the visitors had already seen M. Seifi cautioned, and the second half added four more — D. Mendy, Y. Al Marzouqi, M. Alhammadi, and Seifi again after coming on as a substitute.
Shabab Al-Ahli dominated possession at 64 per cent and created more. They registered 2.04 expected goals against 1.09 for the visitors, while shots on target came 6-2 in their favour. Al-Dhafra managed just one big chance compared to two for the hosts, and their passes into the final third totalled 29 against 121.
Five substitutions were made by each side, though the timing varied. Shabab Al-Ahli brought on Marcelinho and Serafim together in the 61st minute, while Al-Dhafra responded with pairs in the 68th and 69th. Guilherme's arrival in the 90th minute was a late addition from the hosts.
The result keeps Shabab Al-Ahli top of the table with nine points from three games, all victories. Al-Dhafra sit 13th with zero points, having lost their opening three matches — to Sharjah, Konyaspor, and Goztepe in that order.