Al Dhafra left it late to snatch a 1-1 draw against Al Orooba in matchweek 13 of the ADNOC Pro League at Fujairah Stadium on Sunday.
Kingsley Eduwo’s effort at the quarter-hour mark, saved by Al Dhafra goalkeeper Abdullah Sultan, and Makhete Diop’s high shot at the other end a few minutes later were the highlights of an otherwise cagey opening 45 minutes.
Ali Madan broke the deadlock after 67 minutes when Al Dhafra’s defence failed to properly clear the ball, and it fell to the Bahraini international, who smashed it into the back of the net, netting his fourth goal in the league.
Diop came close to equalising in the 74th minute, but his header went just over the bar.
Finally it was Khalid Al Darmaki who restored parity four minutes from time when he met Khalid Al Zaabi’s cross with a powerful header that nestled into the back of the net.
The result keeps the gap between the two sides at two points, with Al Dhafra hovering just above the relegation zone in 12th place with ten points and Al Orooba remaining one place behind despite collecting their eighth point of the campaign.