Sharjah opened their 2024-25 ADNOC Pro League campaign in emphatic fashion, defeating Dibba 3-1 in the opening matchweek on Saturday to lay down an early marker in the new season.
The contest began evenly, with both sides heading into the break level at 1-1.
However, Sharjah raised their intensity in the second half, displaying attacking sharpness and defensive solidity to secure all three points and make the perfect start to their campaign.
Substitute Ousmane Camara made an instant impact, timing his run to perfection to meet Ben Alarbi’s inch-perfect cross with a powerful header that handed Sharjah the lead in the 42nd minute.
Dibba, however, showed resilience and equalised just before halftime. In stoppage time of the first half, Mahmoud Al Mardi unleashed a stunning strike into the far corner of the net, restoring parity and keeping the game finely balanced heading into the second period.
Sharjah regained control after the interval, and it was Ben Alarbi who turned from provider to scorer. In the 63rd minute, he powered a low drive past the goalkeeper, restoring the hosts’ advantage and igniting the home crowd.
The victory was eventually sealed by Sultan Al Saadi, who capitalised on a costly error from Dibba’s goalkeeper. Failing to hold onto the ball, the keeper left Al Saadi with a simple finish into an empty net to make it 3-1 and secure the win for the last season’s runners-up.
With the result, Sharjah start their season on a high, combining attacking flair with clinical finishing, while Dibba will look to regroup and bounce back in their upcoming fixtures.
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