AJMAN, United Arab Emirates (Interstat) — In a dramatic opening to the Arabian Gulf League season, Ajman edged Sharjah FC 3-2 in a pulsating local derby on Friday afternoon at Shaikh Rashid bin Saeed Stadium.

The match, which defied a pregame projection favoring the home side by a narrower margin, delivered a frantic opening half and a tense finish, ultimately handing Ajman a winning start to the campaign while leaving Sharjah searching for answers.

Sharjah FC stunned the home crowd early, taking the lead in the 22nd minute through forward Oualid Azaro, who finished clinically from the right side. The visitors’ advantage was short-lived, however, as Ajman responded with two goals in a devastating two-minute span just past the half-hour mark.

First, Lithierry leveled the score in the 31st minute with a expertly taken free kick that left the Sharjah goalkeeper rooted to the spot. Before the visitors could regroup, Ajman completed the turnaround. In the 33rd minute, Caio Fernandes put the home side ahead, also scoring from the right side to send the stadium into a frenzy.

The intensity of the clash was reflected in the second half, which saw three yellow cards issued. Sharjah’s Caio Fernandes was booked in the 43rd minute for a first-half challenge, followed by Ajman’s Leandrinho in the 84th minute. Azaro, who had opened the scoring, also received a caution in the 89th minute as Sharjah pushed desperately for an equalizer.

That push nearly culminated in a share of the points deep into stoppage time. In the third minute of added time, Azaro struck again for Sharjah, netting his second goal of the afternoon from a similar position to his first, setting up a frantic final moments.

Ajman, however, managed to see out the remaining seconds to secure a valuable three points. The result immediately alters the early league table, with Ajman beginning the season with a perfect record of one win and no losses. Sharjah FC, conversely, starts with a defeat, standing at zero wins and one loss.

The final scoreline proved more favorable for Ajman than pregame analytics had suggested. Interstat’s game simulator had projected a 2-1 victory for the home side, while its ELO rating system gave Ajman an 84.80 percent probability of winning the match. While the outcome aligned with the favored side, the two-goal margin and the late drama provided a more compelling narrative than the numbers forecast.

The victory gives Ajman immediate momentum in the league standings and across all competitions this season. For Sharjah FC, the performance, despite the loss, showed resilience in fighting back late, but defensive lapses during the critical period before halftime will be a primary concern moving forward.