RIT Dubai 3 vs 3 Phoenix United DXB

RIT Dubai hosted Phoenix United DXB at the HCT Active – Grass venue on 24 September 2026, with kick-off at 8:00pm in a friendly 11-a-side encounter. The match ended in a pulsating 3-3 draw after 90 minutes plus five minutes of extra time, providing an entertaining spectacle for the 50-strong crowd.

RIT Dubai lined up in a 3-1-4-2 formation, deploying three defenders at the back: Husnain Khan on the right, Mohsin Ayaz centrally, and Aws Dashash on the left. Mohamed Hazza operated as the lone central midfielder just ahead of the defence, tasked with breaking up opposition play and distributing the ball forward. Ahead of him, four attacking midfielders were positioned: Artur Farhutdinov on the right flank, Mohamed Haitam Yousfi and Mohammad AlSayyed centrally as attacking midfielders, and Nariman Samani on the left. Up front, Hazza Yateem led the line on the right with Mohamed Boudrai on the left, expected to provide pace and goal threat. The goalkeeper duties were initially handled by Abdulkarim AlSafadi. The substitutes available were Omar Taalab, Abraham Deepu, Khaled Yaghi, and Saeed Alhashemi.

The match began with early intensity, Mohamed Haitam Yousfi committing a foul in the fourth minute, signalling a physical contest. Immediately after, RIT Dubai came close to breaking the deadlock as Mohamed Boudrai struck the post in the fifth minute, a near miss that set the tone for the home side’s attacking intent. Moments later, Mohamed Haitam Yousfi tested the opposition goalkeeper with a shot that was well saved, keeping the scoreline level.

RIT Dubai took the lead in the tenth minute through Hazza Yateem, who finished neatly inside the box with his right foot following a clever flicked assist from Mohamed Boudrai. The goal was a fine example of quick interplay and clinical finishing. However, the lead was short-lived as Phoenix United DXB responded swiftly with a fluke goal from outside the box in the 13th minute, also struck with the right foot, which caught the home defence off guard.

Artur Farhutdinov had an early attempt in the 16th minute that flew high over the bar, while Mohamed Boudrai was flagged offside twice in quick succession at the 17th and 24th minutes, curtailing promising attacks. Phoenix United DXB regained the lead in the 23rd minute with a composed finish inside the box, again with the right foot, demonstrating their resilience and ability to capitalise on chances.

Hazza Yateem continued to press for RIT Dubai with attempts in the 28th and 33rd minutes, both going high over the crossbar, reflecting the home side’s persistent search for an equaliser. Mohamed Haitam Yousfi also had a high shot in the 35th minute, while fouls by Mohammad AlSayyed and Husnain Khan in the 36th and 37th minutes respectively indicated a fiercely contested midfield battle.

Artur Farhutdinov’s effort in the 39th minute was another high attempt, and Nariman Samani was booked for a foul in the same minute, highlighting the physical nature of the game. Mohamed Haitam Yousfi was caught offside in the 44th minute, and Mohamed Boudrai’s high shot just before half-time in the 45th minute was another missed opportunity for RIT Dubai.

At the interval, RIT Dubai made a flurry of substitutions: Omar Taalab replaced goalkeeper Abdulkarim AlSafadi, Abraham Deepu came on for right defender Husnain Khan, Khaled Yaghi replaced attacking midfielder Mohammad AlSayyed, and Saeed Alhashemi took over from left attacking midfielder Nariman Samani. These changes aimed to refresh the squad and inject new energy for the second half.

The first half had been a rollercoaster of attacking play and defensive lapses, with both sides showing attacking verve and defensive frailties. The referee, who maintained control with an assured performance rated 85, ensured the game flowed despite the physicality.

The second half saw RIT Dubai pushing hard to overturn the deficit, with Artur Farhutdinov and Mohamed Haitam Yousfi standing out for their creativity and work rate, eventually earning them the player of the match accolades. Their influence was pivotal in RIT Dubai clawing back into the contest and securing a share of the spoils.

Overall, the match was a thrilling encounter with end-to-end action, showcasing the attacking talents of both teams. RIT Dubai’s 3-3 draw with Phoenix United DXB at HCT Active was a fitting result for a game that entertained from start to finish.