Author: Ali Qurashi

Al Dhafra First Team suffered a 2-0 defeat against Sharjah in the match held as part of Round 14 of the ADNOC Pro League, which took place on Wednesday, January 28, at Hamdan Bin Zayed Al Nahyan Stadium in Zayed City, Al Dhafra Region.
Al Dhafra started the match strongly and controlled large periods of the first half, enjoying greater possession and attempting to impose their style of play, while Sharjah relied mainly on counter-attacks. Despite the competitive nature of the half, neither side managed to break the deadlock, and the first half ended in a goalless draw.
The second half began with a similar tempo, as Al Dhafra continued to organize attacks toward Sharjah’s goal, while the visitors intensified their offensive efforts. Sharjah were awarded a penalty early in the second half, but the attempt struck the post and went wide.
In the 69th minute, Al Dhafra head coach made two substitutions, introducing Khalil Al Hammadi in place of Rayan Yaslam and Karim El Berkaoui instead of Abdulrahman Sousa. Following these changes, Al Dhafra increased their attacking intensity and created several dangerous chances, but without success.
Against the run of play, Sharjah opened the scoring through striker Luan Pereira. Al Dhafra made a third substitution in the 83rd minute, bringing on Marcelinho in place of Johan Berg in an attempt to equalize.
The match continued at a high pace until the second minute of stoppage time, when Sharjah added a second goal to seal the victory, after which the referee blew the final whistle.
With this result, Sharjah moved up to seventh place with 17 points, while Al Dhafra dropped to eighth place with 16 points, ahead of the conclusion of the round.

Montenegrin Zeljko Petrovic, coach of the first football team at Al Dhafra Club, confirmed that his team needs to appear at the highest levels of technical, physical and tactical focus in order to achieve a positive result in its upcoming confrontation against Sharjah.

This came during the introductory press conference for the match, which is being held within the fourteenth round of the ADNOC Professional League, which the coach held this Monday evening in the press conference hall at Hamdan bin Zayed Al Nahyan Stadium in Zayed City, in the presence of the Icelandic team’s striker Johan Berg.

Petrovic said that the Sharjah team is one of the big teams and is experiencing one of its best periods this season, in light of a series of positive results, and thanks to having a distinguished group of high-quality players.The Al Dhafra coach added that his team performed well and achieved good results during the first half of the season, contrary to the expectations of many observers, which contributed to changing the mental image of the team and creating a positive atmosphere inside Madinat Zayed, where the public now speaks about his team with pride.

Petrovic revealed that the team suffered from several significant injuries during the past period, most notably the injury of Moroccan striker Karim El Berkaoui during his participation in the Arab Cup, in addition to the injury of defender Leonard while he was with the UAE Olympic team, as well as the injury of Goodmanson in a previous match, explaining that the Sharjah match may witness the return of both El Berkaoui and Goodmanson, depending on their readiness.

The coach announced the joining of right-back Sultan Al Zaabi from Khorfakkan on loan, stressing that he is a distinguished player and will constitute an important addition to the team.Petrovic expected the competition in the league to intensify during the next stage, pointing out the readiness of his players to play a strong match the day after tomorrow at Madinat Zayed Stadium, praising the team’s performance in most of the season’s matches, and stressing that the only match in which the team did not perform at the required level was against Ajman, noting that most of the losses were the result of red cards and unexpected mistakes.For his part, Icelandic Johan Berg expected the confrontation with Sharjah to be difficult, especially since the team lost the first round match to them, noting that the return match would be different on the land of Al Dhafra and among its fans, whom he called on to attend and support the team.Berg stressed that Al Dhafra’s home matches often witness positive results, citing the number of points the team has collected at home this season, and expressing his great confidence in his teammates and their ability to achieve victory and collect the three points.

Al Dhafra secured a valuable point away from home after holding Ajman to an exciting draw in the match that concluded the 23th round of the ADNOC Pro League.
The first half was evenly contested overall, with Ajman enjoying a slight advantage through their control of midfield play, while Al Dhafra struggled to build attacks and play out from the back.
The opening period ended in a goalless draw.
Ajman took the lead early in the second half, giving the match a new momentum. Al Dhafra responded by pushing forward in search of an equalizer despite facing difficult circumstances, as Abdullah Al Karbi was forced off due to injury and replaced by Ibrahim Al Hosani. Shortly after, Abdulrahman Al Sousi also left the field injured, making way for Marcelinho.
The technical staff then made a third substitution, introducing Ryan Yislam in place of Zakaria Mohammed.
With Rayan and Marcelinho coming on and the team trailing, Al Dhafra gradually increased their attacking pressure, while Ajman maintained a high level of focus.
As the match neared its conclusion, Brazilian forward Marcelinho stole the spotlight by scoring a dramatic equalizer in the final minute of the additional time with a powerful strike from outside the penalty area, earning Al Dhafra a precious point.
With this result, Al Dhafra moved up to 16 points in seventh place, while Ajman reached 14 points in tenth, before the end of this round.

Al Dhafra head coach Zeljko Petrovic expressed his pride in his players’ performance following the 3–2 victory over Khorfakkan, stressing that the team is now fully focused on the upcoming ADNOC Pro League clash against Al Ain.
Speaking at the pre-match press conference, Petrovic described Al Ain as a complete and well-balanced team, noting their AFC Champions League pedigree and individual quality. He confirmed the absence of Karim El Berkaoui, Leonard and Gudmundsson, while the readiness of the remaining players will be assessed ahead of the match.
Petrovic highlighted Al Dhafra’s positive progress, pointing out that the team is among the league’s top-scoring sides, and expressed confidence in his players’ ability to compete and deliver a strong performance.
Defender Abdullah Al Karbi underlined the difficulty of facing league leaders Al Ain, calling on Al Dhafra fans to attend and back the team at Hamdan Bin Zayed Al Nahyan Stadium.

Al Dhafra FC suffered a 2–0 defeat against Bani Yas in their Round 10 fixture of the ADNOC Pro League, played on Monday evening at Hamdan Bin Zayed Al Nahyan Stadium in Madinat Zayed.
The team entered the match under challenging circumstances due to suspensions, injuries, and the incomplete match fitness of several players, which ultimately contributed to their first home defeat of the current season.
Bani Yas opened the scoring in the 22nd minute, capitalizing on defensive lapses and a lack of coordination at the back. Despite Al Dhafra’s efforts to regain control and mount a comeback in the second half, the visitors maintained their composure and doubled their lead following a deflected effort that found its way into the net.
Al Dhafra continued to push forward in the remaining minutes, creating limited opportunities to reduce the deficit; however, the scoreline remained unchanged until the final whistle.
With this result, Al Dhafra’s tally remains at 12 points, placing them eighth in the league standings, while Bani Yas move up to 11th place with 7 points, as the tenth round of the ADNOC Pro League comes to a close.

Al Dhafra FC will host Baniyas FC in a crucial encounter as part of Round 10 of the ADNOC Pro League, scheduled to take place tomorrow at 7:45 PM at Hamdan Bin Zayed Al Nahyan Stadium in Zayed City, Al Dhafra Region.
During the pre-match press conference, Al Dhafra head coach Željko Petrović assert that his team is fully prepared and determined to secure victory, stressing the importance of the match for both sides. He highlighted the players’ readiness and their strong desire to deliver a positive result.
Meanwhile, Brazilian midfielder Susa also expressed the team’s readiness for the challenge, calling on Al Dhafra supporters to attend the match, stand behind the players, and provide their full support from the stands.
Al Dhafra will be aiming to capitalize on home advantage as they seek to secure all three points and continue their positive momentum in the league.

Montenegrin head coach Željko Petrović has confirmed that Al Dhafra FC is fully prepared for its upcoming clash against Baniyas, scheduled for next Monday, describing the match as a key milestone in the team’s campaign.
Speaking during the pre-match press conference held on Saturday evening at the Hamdan bin Zayed Al Nahyan Stadium in Madinat Zayed, Petrović emphasized the importance of the encounter for both sides, noting that it represents a decisive challenge at this stage of the competition.
The Al Dhafra coach stressed that his team has been preparing with a positive mindset and strong focus, expressing full confidence in the physical and technical readiness of his players. He added that the squad is entering the match without pressure, aiming to deliver their best performance in front of their home supporters.
“We are aware of the importance of this match for Baniyas as well, but we are equally motivated and determined to compete at the highest level,” Petrović said, reaffirming his trust in the players’ commitment and fighting spirit.
Meanwhile, Brazilian midfielder Gibson Sousa, who recently returned from injury, described the upcoming fixture as a tough and demanding challenge. He highlighted the importance of fan support, noting that the presence and encouragement of the supporters play a crucial role in boosting the players’ morale and pushing the team toward a strong performance.

Al Dhafra Football Club will face Al Jazira FC at Mohammed Bin Zayed Stadium in Abu Dhabi in Matchweek 9 of the ADNOC Pro League, scheduled for Sunday, December 20, at 7:30 PM.
Al Dhafra head coach stated that the match will be challenging, particularly due to the absence of several key players. However, he emphasized that the team will approach the game with a positive mindset, stressing that football is played with passion, enjoyment, and ambition to achieve results.
After eight matches, Al Dhafra have recorded four wins and four defeats, placing seventh in the league standings with 12 points. The team is determined to deliver a strong performance and compete for all three points.

The Omani Seeb Club was crowned champion of the Liwa International Football Championship yesterday evening, Wednesday, after defeating its brother Al Dhafra with a score of two goals to one, in the final match hosted by Hamdan bin Zayed Al Nahyan Stadium in Zayed City. The match was strong and equal, during which the two teams exchanged control of the game. Thanks to the vitality of its midfield, Seeb imposed its advantage at the beginning of the match, being able to score the lead goal in the 20th minute, ending the first half with an unanswered goal lead. In the second half, he entered…