Al-Ahly's Missed Opportunities: 17 Shots Fail to Breach Kalba's Defenses

Kalba held Al Ahli Youth to a goalless draw at home in the sixth round of the UAE's ADNOC Pro League, leaving both teams tied at 11 points in the standings. Despite Al Ahli Youth firing 17 shots at goal, they couldn't break through Kalba's defensive wall in what became the Tigers' best performance of the season.

The match highlighted how solid defending can frustrate even the most attacking teams. Al Ahli Youth dominated possession and created chances but ran into a Kalba side that seemed determined to prove their defensive credentials.

VAR played a crucial role in keeping the scoreline level. In the 20th minute, Kalba thought they had taken the lead when Mohammed Sabeel's header appeared to cross the line, but video review showed the ball hadn't completely crossed the goal line.

Kalba goalkeeper Sultan Al Mandhri made the save of the match in first-half stoppage time, denying Al Ahli Youth's Cartabia with a shot that looked destined for the net.

The second half brought more drama. Al Ahli Youth gained a numerical advantage in the 83rd minute when Kalba's Venezuelan defender Rivas received a red card for fouling Cartabia during a counter-attack. But even with an extra man, they couldn't find the breakthrough.

The most telling moment came in the fourth minute of stoppage time when Kalba's Yasser Hassan squandered a golden opportunity. With the goalkeeper beaten and an open goal in front of him, Hassan somehow failed to convert what should have been a certain winner.

For both teams, this result represents mixed feelings. Al Ahli Youth will wonder how they failed to score from 17 attempts, while Kalba can take pride in their defensive resilience but might regret not capitalizing on their late chance to steal all three points.

The draw keeps both sides in the middle of the table with identical records, suggesting the league remains competitive across multiple teams this season.