Abu Dhabi: Al Ain took over the leadership of the Arabian Gulf League with an authoritative 4-1 win over Sharjah at the Hazza Bin Zayed Stadium late on Thursday.
Asamoah Gyan, Miroslav Stoch, Lee Myung-joo and Jires Kembo-Ekoko scored a goal apiece, while the consolation for Sharjah came from Wanderley.
Al Ain now have 26 points from 11 matches, while Sharjah remain on 12 from 13.
Sharjah showed tremendous resilience to keep their hosts goalless the first half, but soon after the break Al Ain got the breakthrough. Gyan, who was twice denied in the first half, came up with a powerful header past Mohammad Yousuf from a corner.
Sharjah, however, levelled when Wanderley showed his class with a power-packed left-footed strike that gave Khalid Essa no chance.
Yousuf showed his agility to deny Mohammad Abdul Rahman on the hour mark, but minutes later he was beaten far too easily at the near post by a low, long-range shot from Stoch.
Four minutes from time, Lee came up with his first Arabian Gulf League goal to make it 3-1. Then substitute Kembo-Ekoko completed the scoring with another brilliant strike in injury time.
Elsewhere, Al Shabab won 2-1 at Al Dhafra despite being reduced to 10 men in only the 10th minute.
Al Shabab climbed to second with 25 points from 12 games, while Al Dhafra have 12 and are ninth.
An absorbing first half saw the referee send off Al Shabab’s Henrique Luvannor for what looked like an inoffensive tackle on Ibrahim Saeed.
Despite that blow, Al Shabab took the lead in the 38th minute through Essa Mohammad, who blasted through the wall at a free-kick.
Al Dhafra made it 1-1 just before the break with Makhete Diop finding the goal with a fine strike. Carlos Villanueva then scored an 85th minute winner for Al Shabab.
