In a friendly encounter held at AUD on 14 November 2024, RIT Dubai faced a challenging match against their opponents, AUD, ultimately succumbing to a 3-1 defeat. The match kicked off at 8:40 pm and showcased a series of intense moments, with RIT Dubai struggling to maintain their early lead.
RIT Dubai lined up in a 4-4-2 formation, a classic setup that emphasises both defensive solidity and attacking options. Yesa Aamir took his position in goal, while the back four consisted of Husnain Khan and Anas Bukdida as the right and left defenders, respectively, with Filip Simunac and Aws Dashash forming the central defensive partnership. In midfield, Omar Remawi and Abdulrahman Al Hanafi operated on the right and left flanks, while Ahmed Qadourah and Saif Abu Sneineh occupied the central roles. Up front, Nariman Samani and Hazza Yateem were tasked with leading the attack. The substitutes for the match included Mohamed Saif, Mohamed Chahine, Masoud Barahoey, Mohamed AlSayed, Ibrahim Alsaleh, Emadeddin AlHaq, Munzir Kashef, and Artur Farhutdinov.
The match began with an early foul committed by Husnain Khan in the second minute, setting a physical tone for the encounter. However, RIT Dubai quickly found their rhythm, and just four minutes later, Hazza Yateem opened the scoring with a well-placed left-footed shot inside the box, assisted by a long pass from Saif Abu Sneineh. This early goal seemed to energise RIT Dubai, but their lead was short-lived.
In the 17th minute, a defensive lapse led to a goal for AUD, as Yesa Aamir's moment of poor concentration allowed the opponents to capitalise and equalise from close range. The momentum shifted further when AUD took the lead in the 22nd minute with a stunning long-range strike, leaving Aamir with little chance to respond. RIT Dubai struggled to regain control, and AUD extended their advantage in the 31st minute with a well-executed team move, making it 3-1.
Despite the setback, RIT Dubai continued to push forward, with Nariman Samani attempting a shot in the 16th minute that was saved. As the first half drew to a close, Yesa Aamir showcased his goalkeeping skills with a full-stretch save in the 13th minute, but the damage had been done. The half-time whistle blew with RIT Dubai trailing by two goals.
The second half saw immediate changes, with Mohamed Saif replacing Saif Abu Sneineh as RIT Dubai sought to inject fresh energy into their midfield. Hazza Yateem remained a constant threat, but his attempts in the 46th and 47th minutes were either saved or went wide. The match took a more physical turn, with Abdulrahman Al Hanafi receiving a yellow card for persistent infringements shortly after the break.
RIT Dubai made further substitutions in an effort to turn the tide, bringing on Mohamed Chahine and Masoud Barahoey in the 52nd minute. However, the team struggled to find their rhythm, with Ahmed Qadourah receiving a yellow card for a bad tackle shortly thereafter. The match continued to be punctuated by fouls, with Filip Simunac also cautioned for a bad tackle in the 57th minute.
As the game progressed, RIT Dubai's attempts to claw back into the match were thwarted by AUD's resolute defence and effective goalkeeping. Yesa Aamir made a crucial punch in the 77th minute to keep the scoreline from worsening, but RIT Dubai could not find the back of the net again.
Despite their efforts, including attempts from Ibrahim Alsaleh and Hazza Yateem, RIT Dubai was unable to convert their chances into goals. The match concluded with AUD securing a convincing 3-1 victory, leaving RIT Dubai with much to ponder as they look to improve in future fixtures.
