Dubai: Brazilian Batista Libanio [Grafite] struck the match-winner with just three minutes remaining for an exciting 2-1 win over Sharjah and help Al Ahli maintain their healthy lead at the top in the Arabian Gulf League here late on Thursday.
Reduced to ten men midway through the first half, the Red Knights clawed back from a goal deficit to bag full points against a gutsy opponent.
Al Ahli kept their position at the top with 51 points while Sharjah continue in fourth place with 35 points.
After the early onslaughts on the visitors’ goal, Al Ahli were reduced to ten men after just 23 minutes following two yellows drawn by defender Salmeen Khamis.
However, Al Ahli re-arranged themselves and hung in to keep the deadlock going into the interval. It was wily play-maker Salmeen Khamis – a former Al Ahli player – who was the creator of the opening goal as he deftly laid the ball for Jose Carlos Ferreira to prod home in the 51stminute.
Equaliser
But Al Ahli got the equalizer in the 57thminute when Basheer Saeed rose to head in a cross from the left from Jociel Ferreira.
After the equalizer, both teams managed to create chances with the home team replying on quick counter-attacks. But Sharjah simply looked content in settling for the one point instead of going for an all-out win.
However, the home side proved lucky towards the end when Shaheen Abdul Rahman was given a red card to bring Sharjah down to ten men. Energized by this, Al Ahli went all out and were duly rewarded in the 87thminute when Grafite pounced on a deflection from the Sharjah goalkeeper to poke into an empty net for what proved to be the match-winner.
In the second late match, Bani Yas secured full points with a 2-1 win over Al Shaab to keep the club from Sharjah at the rear end of the standings.
Al Ain trounce Emirates Club
Earlier in the day, defending champions Al Ain banked on a brace from Ghanaian striker Asamoah Gyan to earn full points with a 2-1 win over Emirates Club, while ten-man Al Nasr were held to a goalless draw by Al Jazira.
In a match that witnessed seven yellow cards, Gyan tapped in for his first in the 57thminute following a cross from the right. Masaood got the equalizer for the home side when his shot trickled in through the Al Ain goalkeeper’s legs in the 64thminute. But Gyan ensured full points three minutes later when he converted from the spot after being brought down by the Emirates goalkeeper.
