For the second-straight game, the Al Ain Desert Foxes were competitive but came up short in the end.

After scoring their first points of the season in a 16-6 defeat to the Dubai Stallions last week, Al Ain had several chances at a game-tying score in the loss to hosts Abu Dhabi at Zayed Sports City on Friday night.

Newcomer Phil Salt intercepted Wildcats quarterback Bogdan Fagaras on consecutive drives in the fourth quarter with the score 8-0 to keep the Desert Foxes alive, but the crucial touchdown eluded the winless side.

“When you’re going into the fourth quarter down only eight points and the programme is used to being down 20, 30, 40 points, it’s unchartered territory for us,” Al Ain coach Johnny Sharp said. “We’re just learning how to finish and that’s just another piece that we need as a programme.”

Vivaldi Tulysse once again powered Abu Dhabi’s offence to two scores – a 6-yard run in the first quarter and a 5-yard catch from Jermaine Lattimore for insurance in the fourth quarter. The running back also lined up at wide receiver on occasion and caught a screen pass for the twopoint conversion following his first touchdown.

“This is something other teams will have to look for,” Tulysse said of his versatility.

Al Ain quarterback Mohammad Abdulla, who had the highlight 85- yard touchdown grab last week, was intercepted twice in the shutout.