Bani Yas eliminates Al-Nasr and announces its return from the Cup Gate

The Baniyas team pulled off a resounding surprise after defeating Al-Nasr with two unanswered goals in the match that brought the two teams together this Saturday evening at Al Maktoum Stadium, in the round of 16 of the President’s Cup, to reserve its rightful place in the quarter-finals after a heroic performance.

Although Baniyas entered the match at the bottom of the ADNOC Professional League without any victory or goal in the past six rounds, it turned all expectations upside down and achieved its first victory this season in one of the most exciting cup matches. The team showed great courage, defensive organization, and remarkable tactical discipline, which made Al-Nasr, which was an extraordinary candidate to qualify, unable to score.

The start was strong from Al-Samawi, who opened the scoring in the 35th minute through striker Youssoufou Nketeh after a quick counter-attack that ended with a perfect shot past goalkeeper Ahmed Shembeh, before Lionel Govofu increased the lead with a second goal in the 61st minute, taking advantage of a wonderful pass from his colleague Abdullah Hussein that put him in front of the goal.

Al-Nasr tried to regain the result through continuous attacks and high pressure, but the Baniyas defense and its goalkeeper, Fahd Al-Dhanhani, valiantly responded to all attempts, so the team maintained its lead until the final whistle.

It is worth noting that Al-Nasr exited the tournament last season in the same round and on the same stadium, after losing to Al-Sharjah, so the knot was repeated again in the round of 16. With this historic victory, Baniyas confirms that football does not recognize prior calculations, and that the spirit of the cup is capable of reviving any team, regardless of its previous results.