Iranian players starring in UAE league action

MEF - Farhad Majidi (twice), Ali Daei and Javad Kazemian (once) scored for their respective clubs in the United Arab Emirates' 15th Week of league action, as Iranian players shot themselves under the limelight in a distinguished fashion.

Veteran international centre-forward Ali Daei netted the all-important goal after 64 minutes to steer struggling Al-Shabab to a vital 1-0 victory over Al-Jazira, who played for the second game running without their injured Liberian marksman George Weah, as the home sides saw their aspirations of mounting a serious challenge for the league title completely dashed.

Farhad Majidi, one of the most consistent foreign players in domestic league competitions for the second season in a row, banged in 2 goals after 48 and 81 minutes, respectively, to shoot Al-Wasl to a hard-fought 3-2 victory over Al-Ahly in Dubai derby, the most entertaining and acclaimed league fixture, and taking his tally to 11 goals out of 15 league matches.

Defending league champions Al-Ain were the biggest winners of the day, gaining a resounding 6-0 home victory over newcomers Al-Dhafra, with Boubacar Sango rattling in a double-delight to steer his side to the second place on the table standings, trailing new leaders Al-Wahda by one slender point.

Former leaders Al-Sha'ab missed on a fabulous chance to extend their lead when they could only content with a 2-2 draw away to newcomers Dubai FC, the final outcome of the game saw them slipping to the third spot with 29 points, trailing Al-Ain on goal-difference and Al-Wahda by one point.

Al-Ain were stunned today when learning French manager Bruno Metsu is linked with French Première Division side Sedan, according to Parisian daily sports paper l'Equipe.

L'Equipe confirmed former Senegal World Cup manager has given an initial agreement to club president and close friend Pascal Orano to take charge of the side beginning next season, in case Sedan manage to maintain themselves in the French top flight.

New Ghanaian import Felix Mordico scored in his first appearance for Al-Wahda, 4 days after being transferred from Swiss side FC Wil 1900, to help them gaining a solid 3-1 victory away to Al-Ittihad, with Colombian team mate adding the third goal to take his tally to 6 goals in 11 appearances.

Following are the full results, scorers, current table standings and topscorers charts at the end of the 15th Week in the United Arab Emirates:


15th Week (31/01/2003):
· Dubai FC – Al-Sha’ab: 2-2. Juma’a Moussa (43’), Khaled Zayed (45’).///// Abdulrahim Shaklit (14’), Nabil Ibrahim (54’).
· Al-Jazira – Al-Shabab: 0-1. Ali Daei (64’).
· Al-Ahly – Al-Wasl: 2-3. Javad Kazemian (18’), Faysal Khalil (58’).///// Ismail Rashed (14’), Farhad Majidi (48’; 81’).
· Al-Ittihad – Al-Wahda: 1-3. Ibrahim Mohamed (89’).///// Ismail Matar (21’), Felix Mordico (56’), Carlos Castillo (79’).
· Al-Ain – Al-Dhafra: 6-0. Boubacar Sango (3’; 12’), Kandia Traore (42’), Rami Yaslem (43’), Faysal Ali (72’), Fahad Ali (77’).
· Al-Nasr – Sharjah: 1-1. Walid Morad (86’).///// Anderson De Kar (38’).



Club Pl W D L Gf Ga Pts
1. Al-Wahda 15 10 3 3 35 21 30
2. Al-Ain 15 8 5 2 36 17 29
3. Al-Sha’ab 15 8 5 2 29 15 29
4. Al-Ahly 15 7 4 4 35 24 25
5. Al-Nasr 15 6 6 3 26 16 24
6. Al-Jazira 15 5 5 5 21 23 20
7. Al-Wasl 15 4 6 5 24 28 18
8. Sharjah 15 3 6 6 19 29 15
9. Al-Ittihad 15 2 8 5 12 18 14
10.Dubai FC 15 3 5 7 26 37 14
11.Al-Shabab 15 3 4 8 19 30 13
12.Al-Dhafra 15 1 5 9 16 41 8


Top scorers:

1) Cristian Montecinos (Dubai FC)……………………15 goals.
2) Simba N’Diaye (Al-Nasr)…………………………………….12 goals.
3) Farhad Majidi (Al-Wasl)………………………………………11 goals.
4) George Weah (Al-Jazira)……………………………………..9 goals.
Mohamed Srour (Al-Sha’ab)………………………………..9 goals.
Faysal Khalil (Al-Ahly)……………………………………..9 goals.
Boubacar Sango (Al-Ain)……………………………………..9 goals.
5) Mohamed Omar (Al-Ain)…………………………………………..8 goals.
Ali Daei (Al-Shabab)……………………………………………….8 goals.
Ali Daei (Al-Shabab)……………………………………………….8 goals.
6) Ismail Matar (Al-Wahda)……………………………………..7 goals.
7) Peter Kaboka (Dubai FC)……………………………………….6 goals.
Cédrique Bolima (Al-Ittihad)………………………….6 goals.
Carlos Castillo (Al-Wahda)……………………………..6 goals.
8) Hassan Ali Ibrahim (Al-Ahly)………………………..5 goals.
Walid Morad (Al-Nasr)…………………………………………..5 goals.
Mohamed Salem Al-Enazi (Al-Wahda)….…...5 goals.
Abdulrahim Juma’a (Al-Wahda)………………………..5 goals.
9) Emmanuel Abedi (Al-Dhafra)……………………………..4 goals.
Saeed Al-Kas (Sharjah)………………………………………..4 goals.
Razzaq Farhan (Sharjah)……………………………….4 goals.
Walid Obaid (Al-Shabab)…………………..………………….4 goals.