RIT Dubai secured a convincing 5-2 victory against Heriot-Watt University in a friendly match held at the North London Collegiate School on 6th February 2025. The match kicked off at 7:30 pm, with a modest attendance of 20 spectators witnessing an entertaining encounter.
RIT Dubai lined up in a traditional 4-4-2 formation, designed to provide a solid defensive base while allowing for quick transitions to attack. Anandha Krishnan took his place in goal, shielded by a back four consisting of Anas Bukdida and Hussam Alazzah as right and left defenders respectively, with Artemii Graf and Mohsin Ayaz forming the central defensive partnership. The midfield was composed of Nariman Samani on the right, Abdulrahman Al Hanafi and Munzir Kashef centrally, and Mohamed Saif on the left. Up front, Artur Farhutdinov and Abdelhamid Darweesh were tasked with leading the line as right and left forwards, respectively. The substitutes for the match included Mohammad AlSayyed, Aws Dashash, Omar Remawi, Hazza Yateem, Abdullah Mattar, Omar Ali, Francois Motte, and Yesa Aamir.
The match began with both teams probing for an early advantage. In the 7th minute, RIT Dubai's goalkeeper Anandha Krishnan made a crucial save, demonstrating his shot-stopping ability. However, just a minute later, Munzir Kashef was penalised for a foul, giving Heriot-Watt University a chance to build momentum. Nariman Samani then attempted to break the deadlock in the 14th minute, but his effort sailed high over the bar, followed by another attempt that went wide just a minute later.
RIT Dubai's pressure finally paid off in the 28th minute when Abdelhamid Darweesh scored the opening goal, converting a short pass from Artur Farhutdinov inside the box with his left foot. The joy was short-lived, however, as just a minute later, Mohsin Ayaz conceded a penalty, allowing Heriot-Watt University to equalise from the spot.
The match continued to ebb and flow, with Abdulrahman Al Hanafi committing a foul in the 33rd minute, but RIT Dubai regained their composure. In the 42nd minute, Farhutdinov struck again, this time from outside the area, scoring with a right-footed shot after a clever flick. Just before half-time, Mohammad AlSayyed converted a penalty in the 44th minute, extending RIT Dubai's lead to 3-1.
The first half concluded with a yellow card shown to a Heriot-Watt University player, leaving the score at 3-1 as the teams headed into the break. The second half saw immediate changes, with Francois Motte taking over in goal for RIT Dubai, and Omar Ali, Abdullah Mattar, and Munzir Kashef also entering the fray.
Omar Ali had an early chance in the 51st minute but missed the target, while Heriot-Watt University pulled a goal back in the 58th minute with a stunning long-range strike that found the back of the net. The match became increasingly physical, with Omar Ali receiving a yellow card for a bad tackle shortly after.
Francois Motte was called into action, making a couple of saves to maintain RIT Dubai's lead. Substitutions continued to flow, with players rotating in and out as the match progressed. In the 63rd minute, Munzir Kashef returned to the pitch, replacing Omar Ali, while Hussam Alazzah came on for Anas Bukdida.
As the match approached its final stages, RIT Dubai's Hazza Yateem and Munzir Kashef both had attempts that went wide. The game took a turn in the 79th minute when both Hazza Yateem and Aws Dashash received yellow cards for unsporting behaviour, adding to the tension on the pitch.
With the match deep into stoppage time, Hazza Yateem managed to score a header from a cross by Omar Remawi, bringing the score to 4-2. However, his celebration was cut short as he received a red card for unsporting behaviour immediately after. Abdelhamid Darweesh capped off the scoring in the 94th minute, netting his second goal of the match with a well-placed left-footed shot following another assist from Omar Remawi.
RIT Dubai's performance was characterised by their attacking flair and resilience, culminating in a comprehensive 5-2 victory over Heriot-Watt University. The match showcased the team's potential as they look to build on this success in future fixtures.
