Sharjah FC opened their UAE League Cup campaign with a 3-2 defeat to Ajman, letting a two-goal halftime lead slip away in a frustrating night for coach Moraes. The match, played on 19 September 2026 at Rashid Bin Saeed Stadium, was the first group stage fixture for both sides in the ADIB Cup, according to YSScores.
Sharjah looked in control at the break, but the second half told a different story. Ajman took advantage as Sharjah's midfield lost its grip, scoring three unanswered goals-including the winner in stoppage time, as confirmed by SofaScore's official timeline.
Sharjah entered the season as the reigning ADIB Cup champions, while Ajman were playing their first home match of the new campaign.
"We advanced by two goals and played an excellent first half," Moraes said after the match. "But what happened after the break is on us. We had everything in our hands and should have closed out the match."
Moraes pointed to a lack of effective substitutes and ongoing player absences as key reasons for the collapse. He explained that keeping Igor Coronado on the pitch for so long was necessary because the squad lacked options to maintain the team's tempo. With few alternatives, Sharjah struggled to keep up late in the game, and Ajman took full advantage.
There was at least one positive for Sharjah: new signing Loran made his debut and showed some promise for future matches. Moraes's comments echoed the challenges facing other UAE clubs dealing with injuries and limited squad depth, as reported earlier in the league.
Sharjah's defeat highlights the risks of relying on a thin bench in a demanding competition. Failing to close out matches from a winning position leaves the team exposed, and rivals will notice. Unless Sharjah can strengthen their squad and manage absences better, their hopes for trophies this season could be in doubt.
Moraes pointed to a lack of effective substitutes and ongoing player absences as key reasons for the collapse. He explained that keeping Igor Coronado on the pitch for so long was necessary because the squad lacked options to maintain the team's tempo. With few alternatives, Sharjah struggled to keep up late in the game, and Ajman took full advantage.
There was at least one positive for Sharjah: new signing Loran made his debut and showed some promise for future matches. Moraes's comments echoed the challenges facing other UAE clubs dealing with injuries and limited squad depth, as reported earlier in the league.
Prior to this match, Sharjah and Ajman had met five times in the UAE League Cup, with each side recording one win and three matches ending in draws. In their previous cup encounter on 20 February 2026, Sharjah had defeated Ajman 3-2, making Ajman's comeback in this latest fixture particularly notable.
Sharjah's defeat highlights the risks of relying on a thin bench in a demanding competition. Failing to close out matches from a winning position leaves the team exposed, and rivals will notice. Unless Sharjah can strengthen their squad and manage absences better, their hopes for trophies this season could be in doubt.
