RIT Dubai 7 vs 2 University of Dubai

RIT Dubai welcomed University of Dubai to HCT on 15 October 2026 for an 8:30pm kick-off in a league fixture that saw the hosts run out convincing 7-2 winners after 70 minutes of pulsating football. The match was played under the watchful eye of a referee who delivered a commanding performance, earning a 90 rating, with a modest crowd of 50 in attendance.

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. The back three consisted of Aws Dashash on the right, Mohsin Ayaz centrally, and Yahia Lashin on the left, tasked with both defensive solidity and initiating attacks from deep. Mohamed Hazza operated as the lone central midfielder, expected to link defence and attack while providing cover. Ahead of him, a quartet of attacking midfielders featured Artur Farhutdinov on the right flank, Mohammad AlSayyed and Mohamed Haitam Yousfi centrally, and Abdellah Jemal on the left, all charged with creativity and supporting the two forwards. Saeed Alhashemi led the line on the right, with Hazza Yateem on the left, both forwards expected to spearhead the offensive threat. The substitutes named were Mohamed Boudrai, Mohamed Hanafi, Khaled Yaghi, Nariman Samani, and Saif edin Abu Sneineh.

The match began with an early foul by Mohamed Haitam Yousfi in the first minute, setting a physical tone. RIT Dubai quickly sought to impose themselves, with Saeed Alhashemi firing a wide attempt in the third minute, followed by Mohammad AlSayyed’s shot saved by the University of Dubai goalkeeper a minute later. Artur Farhutdinov was caught offside in the eighth minute, illustrating the hosts’ eagerness to break the offside trap. A foul by Saeed Alhashemi followed in the ninth minute, and shortly after, Abdellah Jemal committed a bad tackle that earned him a yellow card in the 11th minute.

Despite the early caution, Jemal made amends swiftly by opening the scoring in the 14th minute. He capitalised on a close-range tap-in from a free kick delivered expertly by Saeed Alhashemi, slotting the ball home with his right foot. The hosts continued to press, though Hazza Yateem was flagged offside in the 17th minute, and Mohamed Hazza conceded a foul moments later. Yateem’s attempt at goal in the 23rd minute sailed high, but the pressure paid off immediately as Mohamed Haitam Yousfi scored from close range following a flick-on assist from Saeed Alhashemi, firing with his right foot inside the box.

Yousfi nearly added a second in the 24th minute, but his shot was saved. RIT Dubai’s attacking momentum was relentless, and just a minute later, Saeed Alhashemi netted a goal following a well-worked team move, finishing with his right foot after a long pass from Artur Farhutdinov. The hosts maintained their intensity, though Yousfi was booked for dissent in the 47th minute after a foul earlier in the half.

The first half concluded at the 35-minute mark with RIT Dubai comfortably ahead. The second half began with Hazza Yateem converting a penalty in the 36th minute, confidently dispatching the spot-kick with his right foot. Yateem then missed a wide attempt two minutes later but remained a constant threat. Fouls continued to punctuate the game, including one by Mohamed Haitam Yousfi in the 40th minute and a late tackle by Mohamed Hazza in the 49th minute that conceded a penalty to University of Dubai. The visitors converted from the spot, reducing the deficit to 4-1.

RIT Dubai made their first substitutions at half-time, with Mohamed Boudrai replacing Abdellah Jemal. The change paid immediate dividends as Hazza Yateem scored again in the 45th minute, finishing inside the box with his right foot after a long pass from Boudrai. The hosts’ dominance was clear, though offside calls continued to disrupt their rhythm, including one against Yateem in the 45th minute and Saeed Alhashemi in the 54th.

Further substitutions followed in the 55th minute with Mohamed Hanafi and Khaled Yaghi coming on for Hazza Yateem and Mohamed Haitam Yousfi respectively. Hazza Yateem, despite being substituted on the hour, quickly made an impact by scoring once more in the 55th minute, completing a team move with a right-footed finish assisted by Boudrai’s long pass. The game remained physical, with fouls by Mohammad AlSayyed in the 47th and 58th minutes and Mohsin Ayaz in the 64th.

Saeed Alhashemi’s attempt was blocked in the 64th minute before he was replaced by Nariman Samani at the 66th minute mark, alongside Saif edin Abu Sneineh coming on for Mohamed Hazza. The visitors pulled a goal back in the 67th minute through a solo effort from outside the box, struck with the right foot, but RIT Dubai responded instantly. Nariman Samani, fresh off the bench, scored a solo goal with his left foot in the 69th minute, sealing the emphatic 7-2 victory for the hosts.

Hazza Yateem was deservedly named player of the match after his influential display, netting four goals and consistently troubling the opposition defence. RIT Dubai’s attacking prowess and tactical discipline in their 3-1-4-2 formation proved too much for University of Dubai, who were unable to contain the relentless pressure throughout the 70 minutes plus added time.