Taarabt and Azarkan shined but couldn’t prevent elimination

Al-Nasr SC and Shabab Al-Ahli Dubai FC delivered a thrilling spectacle in the second leg of the UAE League Cup quarterfinals, ending in an impressive 5-5 draw after regular time.

Following a 2-0 defeat in the first leg, Al-Nasr managed only a draw (5-5) against a resilient Shabab Al-Ahli side, which secured a semifinal spot for the visitors with a 7-5 aggregate score. Despite the elimination, Al-Nasr’s attack stood out, with Adel Taarabt scoring in the 50th minute and Marouan Azarkan contributing a brace (73′ and 75′).

The Moroccan duo, Adel Taarabt and Marouan Azarkan, once again demonstrated their influence on the pitch. Their strong performance remains a positive takeaway for Al-Nasr SC, despite the frustrating result. The team must now shift its focus to other competitions to bounce back.

In addition to Taarabt and Azarkan, the match also featured Moroccan player Othmane Boussaid representing Al-Nasr, while his compatriot Yassine Boualam (19 years old) watched from the bench for Shabab Al-Ahli.