Al Jazira moved into the quarter-finals of the UAE President’s Cup after a hard-fought 1-0 victory against Ajman at the Mohamed Bin Zayed Stadium. The “Pride of Abu Dhabi” struggled for much of the contest to dismantle a disciplined Ajman defensive unit that successfully kept the match scoreless for nearly the entire duration. Al Jazira qualified for the quarter-finals of the UAE President’s Cup after beating Ajman 1–0 at the Mohamed Bin Zayed Stadium in their round-of-16 match. “Pride of Abu Dhabi” faced difficaulty in penetrating Ajman’s defense, which appeared with a tight defensive organization and succeeded in limiting the danger of the home team, keeping their net clean throughout most of the match. Their morale is high and they will look to carry the winning momentum into the tourney.
The breakthrough finally arrived in the 78th minute. Bono de Oliveira spearheaded an incisive attack, utilizing a sharp “one-two” passing sequence with teammate Vinicius Melo before firing the decisive strike into the net.
Elsewhere, Al Wasl secured their quarter-final berth by defeating Ittihad Kalba 4-3 in a penalty shootout. The match ended 2-2 after regulation and extra time. Al Wasl initially led through a stoppage-time goal from Nicolas Jimenez in the first half, following an impressive individual run that saw him weave past two defenders.
Ittihad Kalba leveled the score in the 52nd minute when Saman Qaddous delivered a precise through ball that allowed Carlos Filho to round goalkeeper Dinko Horkas and score.
The visitors then took a shock lead in the 101st minute of extra time via Marwan Al Watani, who capitalized on a defensive error.
However, Al Wasl’s resilience paid off in the 111th minute when defender Sofiane Bouftini headed home the equalizer. Goalkeeper Dinko Horkas then emerged as the hero of the shootout, saving two penalties to guide the “Emperor” through.
Upcoming President’s Cup Fixtures
- Fujairah vs Al Wahda: Friday at 4:55pm
- Al Nasr vs Bani Yas: Friday at 8:00pm
Al Wahda enters their match following a 3-2 win against Khorfakkan. Manager Péricles Chamusca emphasized the need for focus and discipline against their non-top-flight opponents, while midfielder Abdullah Hamad Al Menhali stressed the team’s readiness for the challenge. We need to be fully prepared and focus right from the beginning to the end.
Fujairah coach Bulazo Bulatovic acknowledged the difficulty of the tie but expressed optimism regarding their home advantage. “We have deep respect for Al Wahda and we know this is going to be a difficult match for us. We want to play with courage and show our character on the pitch,” he stated, adding that playing at home provides a significant boost. Fujairah player Sander Bin Beshir echoed this sentiment, describing the match as a vital opportunity for a positive result. We believe we have every chance of getting a positive result.
Meanwhile, Al Nasr coach Milos Milojevic underscored the prestige of the tournament, noting, “This is a very important match for us as the President’s Cup is one of the most prestigious competitions.” Bani Yas coach Hassan Al Abdouli stated that his squad is approaching the encounter with significant ambition and a collective desire to succeed, emphasizing that hard work and team spirit remain the primary factors in deciding the outcome of major fixtures. Preventing a repeat of last season’s early exit from the tournament, his heroics propelled the “Emperor” to the quarterfinals.
Important Details
- “Playing at home gives us extra boost and we hope our fans will turn out in huge number to support us,” he added.
