Dubai: Al Wahda maintained their leadership while Al Shabab assumed a temporary second position in tenth round action of the Arabian Gulf League (AGL) late on Thursday.

Leaders Al Wahda scored on either side of half-time for a 2-1 win over Al Dhafra to keep their three-point cushion at the top even as Al Shabab jumped into second following their hard-fought 2-1 home win over strugglers Ajman.

Sebastian Tagliabue opened for the capital side in the 21st minute and Amer Omar made it 2-0 in the 58th minute.

Makhete Dioup pulled one back for the visitors in the 75th minute. In the Dubai match, Al Shabab took the lead through Edgar Bruno da Silva in the tenth minute only to see the visitors draw on level terms three minutes later.

After long durations of anxious moments trying to keep the Ajman strike trio of Boris Kabi, Bakari Kone and Driss Fettouhi at bay, Al Shabab found the match-winner four minutes into the second half from the penalty spot.

After last week’s fighting 2-2 away draw to Al Wasl, it was the Hawks showing a lot of guts in search of vital three points to keep themselves among the title probables. The home side took the lead in the tenth minute when an umarked da Silva rose high to nod in an inch-perfect cross from fellow Brazilian Henrique Luvannor.

But Ajman – who suffered a demoralising 4-0 loss at the hands of Sharjah last week - equalised within three minutes following a defensive blunder. Striker Bakari Kone relayed accepted the ball and relayed to his captain Kabi to drive home upon entering the area.

Thereafter the home side had a major share of the exchanges, but somehow could not translate these into goals. They had a couple of good attempts on goal but Ajman goalkeeper Ali Mesmari affected two smart saves in as many minutes to keep the visitors in the match. In the 21st minute Mesmari saved an Eisa Mohammad free kick and then two minutes later he dived full length to a Villanueva attempt away.
After being tied 1-1 at half-time, Al Shabab moved clear in the 49th minute following a clear infringement from Ahmad Ebrahim in pulling down substitute Eisa Obaid. Villanueva was entrusted with the penalty kick and the Chilean did not disappoint as he took his season’s tally to eight goals.


After that it was a case of the home side trying to keep a marauding Ajman strikeforce at bay with Eisa Mohammad and Mohammad Marzouq doing a good job in denying both Kabi and Kone on several occasions.

Al Shabab too had their  chances, but missed certain attempts on goal from substitute Nasser Masood and Eisa Obaid.

RESULTS
Al Shabab x Ajman 2-1
Al Wahda x Al Dhafra 2-1