Baniyas and Hatta met in the Pro-League Regular Season on Friday, with the visitors taking all three points through a stoppage-time goal. The match ended 0-1 after Ayman Rchoq found the net in the 90+6th minute, capping a frustrating evening for the hosts.
There was a moment of drama before half-time when Youssouf Niakate appeared to have given Baniyas the lead, but the goal was cancelled by VAR in the 45+4th minute. The decision hung over the rest of the game, and it was fitting that Rchoq's goal came against the run of play.
And here's the thing — Baniyas had the majority of possession, 51 per cent, yet struggled to convert their pressure. They registered five shots on target from 26 attempts, a success rate of just 19 per cent. Hatta, by contrast, were clinical with three shots on target from six attempts.
The statistics tell a familiar story of a team that camps in the final third but can't find the cutting edge. Baniyas created two big chances and had an expected goals figure of 1.88, yet they left the pitch with nothing. Hatta managed only one big chance and 0.57 expected goals, but took their moment.
Both sides had 88 attacks, which suggests neither team sat back. Baniyas made 18 key passes compared to Hatta's seven, but they also failed 72 passes — more than their opponents. The away end never stopped, even if they rarely got through.
By then, the result was already shaping up to be another disappointment for Baniyas. They sit 13th in the table with zero points from four games, having lost every match so far. Hatta move up to 11th with three points, extending their unbeaten run to one game after a poor run of results.