AUS First Team 4 vs 3 RIT Dubai

RIT Dubai travelled to the American University of Sharjah in Sharjah on 30 September 2026 for an 8:00pm kick-off in a friendly away fixture against the AUS First Team. The match unfolded over 90 minutes plus injury time and ended in a narrow 4-3 defeat for RIT Dubai in a pulsating encounter.

RIT Dubai lined up in a 3-1-4-2 formation, deploying three defenders at the back with a single central midfielder shielding the defence. Youssef Fahem started in goal, protected by a back three consisting of Abraham Deepu on the right, Mohsin Ayaz centrally, and Saif Abu Sneineh on the left. Mohamed Haitam Yousfi operated as the lone central midfielder tasked with linking defence and attack. Ahead of him, the midfield quartet featured Nariman Samani on the right wing, Mohammad AlSayyed and Mohamed Hazza in central attacking midfield roles, and Abdellah Jemal on the left wing. Up front, Hazza Yateem took the right forward position with Saeed Alhashemi leading the line on the left. The substitutes bench included Khaled Yaghi, Aws Dashash, Artur Farhutdinov, Mohamed Boudrai, Mazen Bani, Abdulkarim AlSafadi, Omar Ali, and Essa Najim.

The game began with early intensity, but it was RIT Dubai’s Hazza Yateem who quickly found himself in trouble, committing a foul in the third minute. Two minutes later, Mohammad AlSayyed tested the opposition goalkeeper with a shot that was comfortably saved. Yateem’s aggression continued to cause problems as he was booked for a bad tackle in the 13th minute following another foul. Just three minutes later, the AUS First Team took the lead through a spectacular long-range direct free-kick struck with the right foot, leaving Fahem with no chance.

The situation worsened for RIT Dubai when Yateem received a second yellow card for another foul in the 20th minute, resulting in a red card. Reduced to ten men, RIT Dubai struggled to maintain their shape but continued to press forward. Saeed Alhashemi had a chance to level the scores in the 24th minute but fired wide. The match remained physical, with fouls committed by Mohammad AlSayyed at the half-hour mark.

RIT Dubai were awarded a penalty in the 32nd minute, which Saeed Alhashemi confidently converted with his right foot to bring the scores level. However, just two minutes later, Alhashemi was flagged offside after a promising move. The visitors’ left defender Saif Abu Sneineh was booked for a foul in the 35th minute, but RIT Dubai quickly regained momentum. Alhashemi struck again in the 37th minute, this time scoring from outside the area after a clever flick assist from Abdellah Jemal, restoring the lead for RIT Dubai.

Alhashemi continued to threaten, forcing a save from the opposition goalkeeper in the 39th minute. Just before half-time, Mohamed Hazza was replaced by Mohamed Boudrai, while Jemal and Samani were also substituted for Artur Farhutdinov and Aws Dashash respectively, with Deepu making way for Dashash at right defender. The first half ended with RIT Dubai ahead 2-1 despite being a man down.

The second half saw a flurry of fouls early on, with Boudrai and Haitam Yousfi both involved in physical challenges. Nariman Samani was cautioned for dissent in the 48th minute, and the game remained tight and competitive. Alhashemi was again involved in a foul in the 49th minute, and Haitam Yousfi committed further fouls in quick succession. Offside calls disrupted RIT Dubai’s rhythm, notably against Haitam Yousfi and Boudrai.

In the 57th minute, Haitam Yousfi’s attempt went high over the bar, and AlSayyed was booked for a foul shortly after. Dashash also committed a foul in the 59th minute. RIT Dubai made triple substitutions in the 68th minute, bringing on Mazen Bani, Abdulkarim AlSafadi, and Omar Ali for Samani, Fahem, and Alhashemi respectively. The goalkeeper change saw AlSafadi replace Fahem between the sticks.

AlSafadi was immediately tested with a series of saves around the 72nd minute, including two dives at feet and a parry, keeping RIT Dubai in the contest. However, an unfortunate own goal by Saif Abu Sneinah from RIT Dubai gifted the AUS First Team a close-range goal with the accidental finish, levelling the match once more.

Mazen Bani was caught offside twice in quick succession during the mid-70s, and Boudrai was also flagged offside in the 81st minute, despite appearing to be inside his own half. Shortly after, Mohamed Hazza returned to the field, replacing Haitam Yousfi. Bani then assisted Boudrai for a neat finish inside the box in the 82nd minute, putting RIT Dubai back in front with a right-footed strike.

Further substitutions followed with Jemal and Essa Najim coming on for Khaled Yaghi and Saif Abu Sneineh respectively in the 85th minute. AlSayyed was booked for a foul in the 87th minute, and Omar Ali was replaced by Nariman Samani three minutes later.

The closing stages were fraught with tension as fouls mounted. Boudrai and Dashash both committed fouls in injury time, with Dashash conceding a penalty and receiving a red card for violent conduct in the 94th minute. The AUS First Team converted the penalty to equalise once again. They then struck a long-range right-footed effort in the 97th minute to take the lead for the first time since early in the match.

Despite a late offside call against AlSayyed, RIT Dubai could not find a way back, and the match concluded 4-3 in favour of the AUS First Team. Saeed Alhashemi was named player of the match for his influential attacking display and crucial goals.

In a fiercely contested friendly, RIT Dubai showed resilience and attacking flair but ultimately fell short against a clinical AUS First Team side at the American University of Sharjah.