Dubai: Defending champions Al Ahli’s recent misery was compounded by a heavy 4-1 loss to Sharjah, while former winners Al Shabab earned their third win on the trot in the third round of Arabian Gulf Cup matches this week.
Champions last season in all but one of the four competitions, Al Ahli never seemed to be in the match as early goals from Ahmad Khamis and Saif Al Shemilli put Sharjah in control.
Chilean Carlos Munoz pulled one back in the 36th minute for the Red Knights, but Sharjah returned rejuvenated in the second half to get two more through Wanderley Santos Monteiro and another Brazilian, Rodriguinho Marinho.
The hefty win takes Sharjah at the top of Group B with seven points, while Al Ahli hang in mid-table with three points.
Al Dhafra also kept their unbeaten run going with a 2-2 draw at home against Al Wahda to share top position with Sharjah.
Al Shabab were the other team to excel with a 2-1 home win against Al Jazira. Bruno Edgar da Silva opened the score in the fifth minute and Chilean Carlos Villanueva scored his sixth goal of the season in the 15th minute for a comfortable early cushion. Al Jazira pressed hard and were rewarded when Khalfan Mubarak guided home.
Al Shabab are now at the top of Group A with nine points from three matches, while Al Nasr stunned Al Ain 2-1 to keep the 2009 champions winless and at the bottom of the seven-team group with zero points.
Kalba earned their second win — much better than the one point they have after eight rounds of the Arabian Gulf League — with a 2-1 result against Ajman. Kalba are now behind Al Nasr with six points each, followed by Al Jazira with three points.
The fourth round of matches will be played on November 18-19.
