RIT Dubai faced off against UOD in a gripping league home match held at Dubai on 30 January 2025, kicking off at 8:00pm. In a contest that ebbed and flowed, RIT Dubai ultimately succumbed to a 5-3 defeat, leaving them to reflect on missed opportunities and defensive lapses.
RIT Dubai lined up in a traditional 4-4-2 formation, with Shukor Asmar guarding the goal. The back four consisted of Husnain Khan and Aws Dashash as right and left defenders respectively, while Mohamed Chahine and Filip Simunac occupied the central defensive roles. In midfield, Omar Remawi and Mohammad AlSayyed operated on the right and left flanks, with Saif Abu Sneineh and Ahmed Qadourah anchoring the central midfield. Up front, the attacking duo of Masoud Barahoey and Hazza Yateem were tasked with converting chances into goals. The substitutes for the match included Mohsin Ayaz, Artur Farhutdinov, Nariman Samani, and Mohamed Saif.
The match began with an early flurry of fouls, as Omar Remawi and Hazza Yateem both committed infractions within the first seven minutes. RIT Dubai struggled to find their rhythm, with Hazza Yateem's attempt in the 13th minute going wide, followed by Ahmed Qadourah's effort sailing high just a minute later. The first substitution came in the 19th minute when Mohsin Ayaz replaced the injured Mohamed Chahine, adding to the defensive line.
As the match progressed, Ahmed Qadourah was penalised for a foul in the 20th minute, but it was UOD who struck first in the 23rd minute, taking the lead with a left-footed goal from inside the box. Shukor Asmar was called into action shortly thereafter, making a crucial save in the 26th minute to keep RIT Dubai in the game. However, the pressure mounted as Masoud Barahoey's attempt in the 33rd minute went high, followed by another wide effort from Hazza Yateem.
The match took a turn for the worse for RIT Dubai in the 34th minute when Mohsin Ayaz received a yellow card for a deliberate handball. Just a minute later, a defensive mistake from Ayaz allowed UOD to score again, doubling their lead. However, RIT Dubai responded immediately, with Hazza Yateem netting a close-range tap-in from a Masoud Barahoey cross, bringing the score to 2-1 right before half-time.
As the second half commenced, Hazza Yateem continued to shine, converting a penalty in the 38th minute to level the score at 2-2. Yet, just moments later, Shukor Asmar's lapse in concentration led to another goal for UOD, restoring their lead at 3-2. The visitors extended their advantage to 4-2 shortly after, scoring from a direct free-kick in the 53rd minute.
Despite the uphill battle, Hazza Yateem remained a beacon of hope for RIT Dubai, scoring his second penalty of the match in the 57th minute, narrowing the gap to 4-3. However, the relentless UOD side would not be denied, and they added a fifth goal in the 50th minute, showcasing their attacking prowess.
As the match drew to a close, RIT Dubai struggled to maintain composure, with several fouls committed by players including Ahmed Qadourah and Nariman Samani. The final whistle blew with UOD emerging victorious, leaving RIT Dubai to ponder their defensive frailties and missed chances in what was a thrilling encounter.
