AJMAN - Founeke Sy was Ajman’s hero as he led the team to an overwhelming 6-1 win against Dibba Al Fujairah in the opening round of their Etisalat Cup match played at the Ajman ground on Wednesday.


Dibba Al Fujairah, the new club, who qualified last season to the Professional League, looked to impress with Alusio Da Silva Neres, Luiz Fernando and Alexsander Medeiros in the strike.

Dibba in their bid to get on the score sheet attacked from the start with Marwan Khamis, in the 6th minute attempting a solo dash into the Ajman den, but was dislodged quickly by Mousa Abdulrahman and  Ahmed Yassi guarding the Ajman post.

Ajman looked the more confident team playing on their home ground but Dibba displayed more character in their play style.

Ajman were on offensive with Founeke Sy and Boris Kabi tormenting Dibba keeper Mohamed Al Rowalhy with stinging aerial attacks. Although Ajman earned four corner kicks in the first half, they were not able to convert as the blue jerseys had read well into the game.

The orange brigade almost came close to opening the account in the 8th minute as the Dibba keeper Mohamed sprinted to block Boris Kabe who shot the ball into the Dibba defender Saeed Al Naqbi, who cleared the ball to safety.

Dibba’s Ahmed Ali, Luiz Fernando and Marwan Khamis co-ordinated the strikes but the Ajman Club who had signed a three-season contract with Saleh Basheir, (Al Jazira’s former full left back), did full justice to his role.

Ajman in the 12th minute stepped up the pressure Ajman Kerkar with the arm band doing well to plot moves in the mid field. The offensives earned Ajman a free kick at the edge of the box but was put out of play by the Dibba defence.

Mali player Sy attempted slamming the ball on top of the post in the 16th minute which was stopped by the bar much to the relief of the Dibba coach Marcelo Carbo. But the unstoppable Malian came back with renewed vengeance to slot home the first goal in the 28th minute off a Ali Kamis pass.

The Orange brigade charged on rival end choking Dibba with grounders from both end. Cracks seemed to have emerged in the Dibba defense.

Saeed, Ibrahim Eid, Neres and Adel Hammadi failed to read the Ajman attack and succumbed time and again to the same plot adopted by the orange brigade. Ajman increased the lead in the 31st minute with no 12 keeper beaten by Founeke Sy to give Ajman a 2-0 lead.

The battering did not halt and Dibba who looked rattled fell back on the defense but could not prevent the agile and inform Sy to slam home his third goal in the 33rd minute to put Ajman in command with a 3-0 lead at half time.

Iraqi coach Abdul Alwab Abdulkadir definitely looked pleased to see his boys outmatch Dibba on all fronts.
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