Al Nasr to meet Al Ahli in semi-finals

Al Nasr will meet Al Ahli in a repeat clash for a place in the final of the inaugural UAE Beach Soccer League that is scheduled to conclude next weekend. Al Nasr got the better of Ittihad Kalba 5-3, while Al Ahli drubbed Al Hamriya Club 14-4 in the two semi-finals played at the Al Mamzar Beach on Saturday. This will be the second meeting between Al Nasr and Al Ahli following their clash earlier in the month during the Dubai round of qualifiers for the same tournament. The star for Al Ahli was Portuguese striker Madjer as he secured a double hat-trick while Hassan Hussain got a brace. Upcoming players led by UAE national team member Rashid Ahmad, Mubarak Juma, Hussain Ahmad and Hashim Omar all got one each as Al Hamriya Club tried their best to match their better-equipped opponents from Dubai. Hamad Ali scored two goals, while Omran Al Shamsi and Rashid Ali got one each for the losing team. The second quarter-final was evenly-matched with Abbas Ali getting his name twice on the scoresheet, while Eisa Kambar, Adnan Ahmad and goalkeeper Humaid Jamal scored one each for Al Nasr. Ittihad Kalba never really gave up and managed one strike each from Khalid Esmail, Mohammad Muftah and Ebrahim Esmail. In the semi-finals to be played on Friday, Ajman Club will take on Hatta Club at 3.30pm, while Al Nasr will face Al Ahli at 4.45pm. The third place play-off and the final will be held on Saturday. This is the first-ever UAE Beach Soccer League being held under the patronage of Shaikh Hamdan bin Mohammad bin Rashid Al Maktoum, Crown Prince of Dubai and Chairman, Dubai Sports Council, who are also the organisers of the competition.