RIT Dubai faced off against Heriot Watt University in a commanding league encounter at the North London Collegiate School on 24 October 2024, with the match kicking off at 8:00pm. The Dubai side showcased their dominance with a resounding 5-0 victory, leaving their opponents struggling to keep pace throughout the contest.
RIT Dubai adopted a 4-1-4-1 formation, which allowed them to maintain a solid defensive structure while providing ample support for their attacking players. Francois Motte stood guard in goal, with Anas Bukdida and Hussam Alazzah operating as the right and left defenders, respectively. The central defensive pairing of Husnain Khan and Mohsin Ayaz provided a robust backbone, while Saif Abu Sneineh played a pivotal role as the central midfielder. The attacking midfield was comprised of Ahmed Mattar on the right, Mohamed AlSayed in the centre, Omar Ali on the left, and Mohamed Razvin leading the line as the striker.
The substitutes for RIT Dubai included Artur Farhutdinov, Omar Remawi, Ibrahim Alsaleh, Abdulrahman Al Hanafi, and Aws Dashash, who would later play crucial roles in the match.
The match began with an early foul by Mohamed Razvin, quickly followed by another from Omar Ali, as both teams sought to establish their presence. However, it was RIT Dubai who struck first, with Mohamed Razvin scoring in the 5th minute, assisted by Mohsin Ayaz's header. This early goal set the tone for the match, igniting RIT Dubai's attacking prowess.
Just five minutes later, Razvin found the net again, this time capitalising on a goalmouth scramble after a short pass from Omar Ali, extending the lead to 2-0. RIT Dubai continued to press, with Abdullah Mattar's attempt in the 18th minute saved by the Heriot Watt goalkeeper, while Ahmed Mattar was flagged offside shortly after.
As the first half progressed, RIT Dubai maintained their momentum, with Saif Abu Sneineh and Anas Bukdida both committing fouls, but the team remained focused on their attacking strategy. Despite a few offside calls against Ahmed Mattar, the Dubai side continued to threaten, with Razvin's handball in the 13th minute being a rare moment of concern.
The first half concluded with RIT Dubai firmly in control, leading 2-0. As the second half commenced, Artur Farhutdinov replaced Abdullah Mattar, adding fresh legs to the midfield. The match continued with a flurry of activity, including a foul by Anas Bukdida that resulted in a yellow card for dissent.
In the 40th minute, Mohamed AlSayed scored RIT Dubai's third goal, converting a short pass from Omar Ali inside the box. Just a minute later, Omar Ali himself got on the scoresheet, assisted by AlSayed, further widening the gap to 4-0.
The relentless RIT Dubai attack showed no signs of slowing down, with Farhutdinov making an attempt that was saved shortly after his introduction. In the 58th minute, Farhutdinov scored RIT Dubai's fifth goal, finishing from close range after a cross from Omar Remawi, sealing a comprehensive victory.
Despite a few late attempts from RIT, including a saved effort from Ahmed Mattar, RIT Dubai's defence held firm. The match concluded with a final score of 5-0, a testament to RIT Dubai's dominance and tactical superiority throughout the encounter. The performance of Mohsin Ayaz and Omar Ali stood out, earning them accolades as the players of the match for their contributions to this emphatic victory.
