Al Wahda three points clear of Al Jazira at top

Abu Dhabi: Al Wahda were the biggest winners of the 17th week of the UAE Pro Football League (UFL) after beating Al Wasl 2-0 to increase their lead at the top of the standings to 3 points above their neighbours Al Jazira who were lucky to tie 1-1 with fourth-placed Bani Yas.

Al Ain, the third-placed team, have their hopes dented after losing to Al Dhafrah 2-1 in the week's biggest upset as Al Nasr, the oldest team in the country, are threatened with relegation after losing the Dubai derby against Al Ahli 4-2 while Emirates settled for a 1-1 tie.

Bani Yas were the better team against Al Jazira and took the lead but Al Jazira were fortunate to come back in the third minute of injury time to level the score from the penalty spot.

Unlucky

Al Ain, who have great hopes of moving closer to the leaders, failed to overcome the hurdle of Al Dhafrah who defeated them for the first time in the club's history, which made the difference between Al Ain and Al Wahda, the leaders, 8 points with only five matches remaining. Al Ain will host Al Wahda on April 9 in the 18th week as the competition will stop until April 8 to allow Al Ahli, Al Jazira, Al Wahda and Al Ain to take part in the AFC Champions League matches.

Al Wahda marshalled their forces well in their match against Al Wasl, despite the absence of their top scorer Fernando Baiano, who is serving a three-match suspension. They scored twice to consolidate their lead at the top of the table. Al Jazira's championship hopes have suffered a setback as they are now 3 points adrift in the battle for the title mainly between the two Abu Dhabi clubs.

At the bottom, Al Nasr face relegation after losing to Al Ahli even as Emirates are continuing their slow but steady progress which started when Eid Baroot, their former player, took over as head coach.

Emirates were unlucky to see their lead levelled on the 3rd minute of injury time against Al Shabab, the team they will face on April 19 in the final of the President's Cup.

Ajman's relegation is all but confirmed after they failed to win against Sharjah and went down 4-1 despite their opponents playing most of the second half with one man less. The MVP of the 17th week was Ahmad Khalil, the Al Ahli striker, who scored a hat-trick and was responsible for his team's fourth goal from the penalty spot.

RESULTS