⚽ First Division, Match Day 1
📅 Saturday, March 8, 2025
📍 Precision Football, Dubai, UAE
Banaat FC drew points in their highly anticipated rematch against Precision Football, as a dramatic 4-4 battle kicked off the second round of the UAE Women's League. The high-intensity match was packed with drama, world-class saves, and unbelievable goals.
The game got off to a blistering start as new signing Mel Hoekstra wasted no time putting Banaat FC in front, scoring just seconds after kickoff. Hoekstra curled the ball into the top right corner, leaving the keeper helpless.
Banaat FC doubled their lead when captain Dounia Tarkane stepped up and delivered a stunning free kick from the centre circle. Once again, the Precision goalkeeper was caught off guard as the ball sailed into the left corner, giving Banaat a 2-0 advantage at halftime.
Goalkeeper Amna Alsaleh maintained a clean sheet in the first half, making many brilliant saves to keep her team in the game.
Precision responded in the second half, taking advantage of a misplay in the box from a corner kick to make it 2-1. However, Banaat FC quickly regained their two-goal cushion as Hoekstra struck again—this time with an unbelievable long-range effort from the halfway line, restoring the lead at 3-1 and leaving Precision no time to process their first goal.
Midfielder Nour Roumani was forced to exit the match after a harsh tackle, leaving her with an injury to her shoulder.
As the match entered the later stages, Precision continued to apply pressure, cutting the deficit to 3-2. Banaat FC responded with composure, and their attacking pressure paid off when they were awarded a penalty. Tarkane calmly slotted it home to make it 4-2.
Then came the game’s most controversial moment—a red card shown to a Banaat FC defender in what appeared to be a harsh decision. Additionally, Tarkane’s injury and brief exit from the pitch forced Banaat FC to play two women down. The call and injury shifted momentum, allowing Precision to capitalize on their numerical advantage. They netted a third goal to make it 4-3 before finding a dramatic equalizer late in the game to secure a 4-4 draw.
Despite their resilience throughout the match, Banaat FC was left frustrated with the result, especially with the momentum shift at the end of the match turning in Precision’s favour. Although the match ended in a 4-4 draw, the opponents celebrated how much only coming away with a single point meant to them against a team like Banaat FC. Banaat FC will look to channel their focus into the next fixture as we continue our push in the 2025 season.
