Saturday, Sep 12, 2015
Abu Dhabi: Bani Yas celebrated the coup of signing the former Real Madrid winger Royston Drenthe with a comfortable 3-0 home win over promoted Dibba in the Arabian Gulf League on Saturday.
Two of the Sky Blues’ other foreign recruits in the summer, strikers Ishak Belfodil (2) and Joaquin Larrivey, scored the goals for Luis Garcia’s side, who made it two AGL wins out of two.
On Friday, Garcia added Drenthe to his overseas contingent — which also includes Australia midfielder Mark Milligan — on a free transfer.
The Dutch winger, 28, was a free agent after leaving Kayseri Erciyesspor, the Turkish Super Lig side, earlier this summer and has penned a one-year deal with Bani Yas.
The hosts took the lead in the 11th minute as some fine skill from the Argentinian Larrivey set up the young Algerian Belfodil to find the far corner of the net with a right-footed curler. Twelve minutes later, Belfodil grabbed his brace after ghosting in at the back post to apply a left-footed finish at a tight angle from Bandar Al Ahbabi’s cross.
It was Belfodil’s third league goal of the season following his effort in Bani Yas’ 2-0 away win at another promoted side, Al Shaab, three weeks ago. The visitors never gave up in response, but lacked the quality and clinical finishing of the hosts, who netted their third goal in second-half injury time.
Larrivey, who scored Bani Yas’ other goal against Al Shaab, latched on to substitute Ahmad Habboush’s reverse pass, rounded goalkeeper Humaid Abdullah, before slotting the ball into the empty net.
Drenthe, who spent four years at Real Madrid between 2007 and 2011, was not available for selection for Saturday’s resumption of the AGL after a three-week hiatus for Arabian Gulf Cup and international commitments. He was heralded as one of the Netherlands’ finest prospects when he was named best player at the 2007 Under-21 European Championships as the Dutch retained their title.
His performances at the tournament earned Drenthe a €14 million (Dh58.2 million) move to Madrid that summer. However, after scoring a superb goal on debut in the Super Cup clash against Sevilla, his career slumped. In four years at the Bernabeu, he made only 46 league appearances.
Drenthe, who can also play at left-back, has had loan spells at Hercules in his homeland and then English Premier League side Everton, but failed to shine at either. He left Real as a free agent in August 2012, and has since represented Alania Vladikavkaz in Russia and English clubs Sheffield Wednesday and Reading.
During his brief stint at Erciyesspor, Drenthe scored three goals in 11 league matches. In Saturday’s other early game, Al Nasr joined Bani Yas on six points after a double from Luis Jimenez and an own goal from Abdul Rahman Yousuf propelled them to a 3-1 victory away to Al Dhafra.
Striker Makhete Diop replied for the home side.
By Euan Reedie Chief Sports Writer - Abu Dhabi
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