Francisco Alcacer's header was the difference for Sharjah in a 3-2 thrilling win over Ajman at Rashid bin Saeed Stadium in Matchweek 3 of the ADNOC Pro League on Thursday.
The Oranges needed fourteen minutes to pose their first real threat on Sharjah keeper Darwish Mohammad, when Firas Ben Larbi curled a superb free kick from about 25 yards out, but his effort hit the post.
Ajman defender Soud Saeed's own goal gave the hosts the lead when he converted a cross into his own net in the 35th minute.
Only two minutes before the two teams headed to the dressing rooms for the break, Ajman leveled the scoring after a brilliant one-two between M. Ben Alarbi and Prestige Mboungou ended with the latter dribbling the keeper and slotting the ball into the empty net.
Mboungou became the first ever Congolese player to hit the back of the net in the ADNOC Pro League.
Only two minutes after the break, Ben Alarbi gave the lead for Ajman for the first time in the match after he met Waleed Azaro's cross with a clinical finish into the net.
Five minutes after the hour mark, Luan Pereira leveled the scoring again when his first attempt from inside the box was saved by Ajman goalkeeper Ali Al Hosani, and he poked the rebound into the net.
In the 71st minute, Sharjah were awarded a penalty after the ball hit the hand of defender Soud Saeed inside the box.
Francisco Alcacer attempted to tuck the ball in the bottom corner, but the goalkeeper got down quickly to make a fine save and sent the ball to a corner kick.
After he watched his effort being blocked by Al Hosani, Alcacer met Miralem Pjanic's cross from a corner with a powerful header into the back of the net, sealing a dramatic win for Sharjah.
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