Kalba and Khorfakkan share spoils as Bani Yas rally to hold Al Dhafra

Kalba and Khorfakkan played out a 0-0 draw in their Matchweek 24 clash of the Adnoc Pro League.

The result sees Kalba move to 24 points in 11th place, while Khorfakkan reach 26 points in 8th.

The first half saw limited chances, despite Kalba edging possession (53.7%).

Khorfakkan came closest to scoring in the 32nd minute when Adama Diallo found the net, but his effort was ruled out for offside after a VAR review.

Khorfakkan looked more dangerous overall, registering more attempts, while Kalba struggled to create clear opportunities.

In the second half, both teams increased their attacking efforts. Diallo remained a key threat for Khorfakkan, while Kalba came close through Nemanja Jovic in the 77th minute, but his shot went just wide. Sekou Gassama also missed a late chance, sending his effort over the bar.

Despite late pressure from both sides, neither team could find the breakthrough, and the match ended in a goalless draw.

Meanwhile, Bani Yas and Al Dhafra played out an exciting 2-2 draw at Bani Yas Stadium in Abu Dhabi.

Al Dhafra made a perfect start, taking the lead after just one minute through Karim El Berkaoui, who scored the fastest goal of the season. Bani Yas responded in the 36th minute, with Youssoufou Niakaté finding the equalizer to bring his side back into the game.

In the second half, El Berkaoui struck again in the 56th minute to restore Al Dhafra’s lead. However, Bani Yas continued to push forward and were rewarded in the 82nd minute when substitute Nassim Chadli scored the equalizer, securing a point for his team.

Following the result, Bani Yas move to 26 points in ninth place, while Al Dhafra reach 19 points in 13th. Al Dhafra dominated the first half, enjoying 70.8% possession compared to 29.2% for Bani Yas, while also registering more attempts on goal. Despite that, Bani Yas stayed resilient and made the most of their chances.

A key turning point came in the 79th minute when Al Dhafra’s standout performer Karim El Berkaoui was forced off due to injury. Bani Yas capitalized on the shift in momentum, increasing their pressure before eventually finding the equalizer through Chadli.

In another match, Dibba secured a crucial 2-1 victory over Al Bataeh at the Dibba Stadium.

The win proved vital for Dibba, lifting them to 20 points and out of the relegation zone, sitting in 12th place, while Al Bataeh remain anchored at the bottom of the table with 19 points, struggling to find form.

The first half saw both teams cancel each other out, with few clear-cut chances and a midfield battle that dominated proceedings.

Dibba, playing on their home turf, looked eager to assert control but found themselves repeatedly thwarted by a resilient Al Bataeh defense and the alert goalkeeping of their opponents. Despite the lack of goals, the half was far from dull, featuring some promising attacks and tactical maneuvers from both sides.

The second half brought a noticeable shift in momentum. Dibba came out with renewed intensity and were rewarded in the 58th minute when Carlos Vinicius calmly converted a penalty, sending the home fans into a frenzy and breaking the deadlock. This breakthrough seemed to energize the hosts, who continued to push forward in search of a more comfortable lead.

Their efforts paid off in the 71st minute when Simon De Barros doubled Dibba’s advantage with a clinical finish, leaving the visiting defense chasing shadows.

At 2-0, Dibba looked firmly in control, but Al Bataeh refused to go down without a fight. Ten minutes later, Marwan Fahad Hamza pulled one back for the visitors, injecting a sense of urgency and tension into the final stages of the match.

Despite a late surge from Al Bataeh, Dibba’s defense held strong, showing composure under pressure and closing out the game with discipline.

The full-time whistle confirmed a hard-fought 2-1 victory, earning Dibba three vital points and keeping their hopes alive in the battle to avoid relegation.

Earlier, Ajman and Al Jazira settled for a point apiece after a hard fought 1-1 draw at Rashid Bin Saeed Stadium, in a contest that ebbed and flowed but ultimately delivered no winner.

The visitors came into the match looking to strengthen their grip on third place, while Ajman aimed to build momentum on home soil, and both sides showed flashes of quality across an evenly balanced encounter.

Ajman struck first just before the interval. A moment of real quality down the flank saw Saad El Hadani deliver a precise cross into the danger area, where Victor Henrique timed his run perfectly and finished from close range to give the hosts a deserved lead heading into the break.

Al Jazira responded with greater urgency after the restart and were rewarded early in the second half. A scramble inside the penalty area created the opening, and Mohamed Elneny reacted quickest, calmly slotting home from close range to bring his side level five minutes after the interval.