The 2022/23 Adnoc Pro League kicked off on Friday, with champions Al Ain opening proceedings away to Ajman and new boys Al Bataeh seeking to announce their arrival. We pick out the highlights from Round 1.
Story of the round
Champions Al Ain, so impressive last season en route to a record-extending 14th UAE championship, opened their defence with a 1-1 draw at Ajman on Friday, but were left to rue Kodjo Laba’s missed penalty deep into injury-time to get the points. Last season's top scorer sent his spot-kick over the crossbar. It was the 103rd minute.
Promoted Al Bataeh, making their first appearance in the top flight, delivered against the much-fancied Ittihad Kalba, winning 2-0 at home despite fielding 11 debutants in their starting line-up. Lourency and Joao Novais both struck memorable goals on a historic day for the new boys.
At a raucous Zabeel Stadium, Al Wasl and Al Wahda played out a thrilling 2-2 draw, when Joao Pedro headed home Ismail Matar’s injury-time corner to salvage a point for the hosts. Fabio De Lima had earlier given Wasl a 2-1 lead, marking his first goal since last season was ended prematurely through serious injury.
Meanwhile, Baniyas began their campaign with a 1-0 victory at home to Khorfakkan, with Serbian defender Saska Ivkovic heading home in the 79th minute. The home side endured a fraught final few moments, though, when Ahmed Abunamous was sent off and VAR ruled out an apparent equaliser for Khorfakkan.
Master marksman Ali Mabkhout was at the double to secure a 2-0 victory for Al Jazira against Dibba Al Fujairah, last year’s First Division champions, on Saturday. Jazira, Adnoc Pro League winners two seasons ago, will once more likely rely on the competition’s all-time leading goalscorer if they are to run favourites Al Ain close this time around.
Al Nasr began life under new manager Thorsten Fink with a 1-1 draw away to Al Dhafra, the visitors rebounding well from Khalid Al Darmaki’s goal for the hosts just after the hour mark. New signing Dembo Darboe struck only nine minutes later to send Nasr happy on the long trek back to Dubai.
In the round’s final match, Spain striker Paco Alcacer underlined his potential impact on the league this season with the second in Sharjah’s 2-0 victory against Shabab Al Ahli at the Rashid Stadium. One of the league’s marquee signings this summer, the former Valencia, Barcelona, Borussia Dortmund and Villarreal forward promises much.
Player of the round
Joao Pedro (Al Wahda)
The Al Wahda frontman, seemingly forever linked with a move from the Abu Dhabi club, was the main man against Al Wasl on Friday. Not only did Pedro display his bravery in heading home the opener – he took a whack on the forehead for his troubles – but he stood up tall right at the death, again powering home a header to rescue a point. Surely crucial to Wahda’s aspirations this season.
Manager of the round
Caio Zanardi (Al Bataeh)
The speed, and size, of change at the top-flight debutants has been remarkable, with the club comfortably the most active during the summer window. Two of the most notable signings – among the 20-plus – were former national team stalwarts Ahmed Khalil and Khamis Esmail. Al Bataeh did not even require the former, though, with Zanardi proving seismic change need not require a significant slice of patience, too. It’s early days, of course, but the former Al Nasr manager moulded his side into an expert counter-attacking outfit to dispatch an apparently resurgent Ittihad Kalba. Bataeh rode their luck at times, but what a start to life in the big league.
Goal of the round
Joao Novais (Al Bataeh)
One of that raft of recruits at Al Bataeh, the Portuguese midfielder endeared himself immediately to fans with a rocket of a goal to make certain the points. Collecting the ball on the left wing, Novais raced forward and evaded one challenge before unleashing a thunderous shot that clipped the underside of the crossbar - hugely satisfying - on its way in. OK, it arrived in the 99th minute, but still it capped a momentous day for the club.
Sholto Byrnes on Myanmar politics
PROFILE OF STARZPLAY
Date started: 2014
Founders: Maaz Sheikh, Danny Bates
Based: Dubai, UAE
Sector: Entertainment/Streaming Video On Demand
Number of employees: 125
Investors/Investment amount: $125 million. Major investors include Starz/Lionsgate, State Street, SEQ and Delta Partners
Financial considerations before buying a property
Buyers should try to pay as much in cash as possible for a property, limiting the mortgage value to as little as they can afford. This means they not only pay less in interest but their monthly costs are also reduced. Ideally, the monthly mortgage payment should not exceed 20 per cent of the purchaser’s total household income, says Carol Glynn, founder of Conscious Finance Coaching.
“If it’s a rental property, plan for the property to have periods when it does not have a tenant. Ensure you have enough cash set aside to pay the mortgage and other costs during these periods, ideally at least six months,” she says.
Also, shop around for the best mortgage interest rate. Understand the terms and conditions, especially what happens after any introductory periods, Ms Glynn adds.
Using a good mortgage broker is worth the investment to obtain the best rate available for a buyer’s needs and circumstances. A good mortgage broker will help the buyer understand the terms and conditions of the mortgage and make the purchasing process efficient and easier.
WOMAN AND CHILD
Director: Saeed Roustaee
Starring: Parinaz Izadyar, Payman Maadi
Rating: 4/5
The specs
Engine: Four electric motors, one at each wheel
Power: 579hp
Torque: 859Nm
Transmission: Single-speed automatic
Price: From Dh825,900
On sale: Now
When is VAR used?
• Goals
• Penalty decisions
• Direct red-card incidents
• Mistaken identity
Dust and sand storms compared
Sand storm
- Particle size: Larger, heavier sand grains
- Visibility: Often dramatic with thick "walls" of sand
- Duration: Short-lived, typically localised
- Travel distance: Limited
- Source: Open desert areas with strong winds
Dust storm
- Particle size: Much finer, lightweight particles
- Visibility: Hazy skies but less intense
- Duration: Can linger for days
- Travel distance: Long-range, up to thousands of kilometres
- Source: Can be carried from distant regions
MATCH INFO
Manchester City 3
Danilo (16'), Bernardo Silva (34'), Fernandinho (72')
Brighton & Hove Albion 1
Ulloa (20')
Sun jukebox
Rufus Thomas, Bear Cat (The Answer to Hound Dog) (1953)
This rip-off of Leiber/Stoller’s early rock stomper brought a lawsuit against Phillips and necessitated Presley’s premature sale to RCA.
Elvis Presley, Mystery Train (1955)
The B-side of Presley’s final single for Sun bops with a drummer-less groove.
Johnny Cash and the Tennessee Two, Folsom Prison Blues (1955)
Originally recorded for Sun, Cash’s signature tune was performed for inmates of the titular prison 13 years later.
Carl Perkins, Blue Suede Shoes (1956)
Within a month of Sun’s February release Elvis had his version out on RCA.
Roy Orbison, Ooby Dooby (1956)
An essential piece of irreverent juvenilia from Orbison.
Jerry Lee Lewis, Great Balls of Fire (1957)
Lee’s trademark anthem is one of the era’s best-remembered – and best-selling – songs.
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TUESDAY'S ORDER OF PLAY
Centre Court
Starting at 2pm:
Malin Cilic (CRO) v Benoit Paire (FRA) [8]
Not before 4pm:
Dan Evans (GBR) v Fabio Fogini (ITA) [4]
Not before 7pm:
Pablo Carreno Busta (SPA) v Stefanos Tsitsipas (GRE) [2]
Roberto Bautista Agut (SPA) [5] v Jan-Lennard Struff (GER)
Court One
Starting at 2pm
Prajnesh Gunneswaran (IND) v Dennis Novak (AUT)
Joao Sousa (POR) v Filip Krajinovic (SRB)
Not before 5pm:
Rajeev Ram (USA) and Joe Salisbury (GBR) [1] v Marin Cilic v Novak Djokovic (SRB)
Nikoloz Basilashvili v Ricardas Berankis (LTU)
