Abu Dhabi: Newly crowned Arabian Gulf League champions Al Ain eked out a narrow 1-0 home win over Bani Yas, while Al Nasr thumped relegated Kalba 3-0 in the AGL’s two early matches on Friday evening.
Al Ain’s victory, courtesy of Jires Kembo Ekoko’s second-half strike, propelled them to 59 points — 11 ahead of second-place Al Jazira, who were due to host Al Shabab late on Friday.
After a goalless first half at the Hazza Bin Zayed Stadium, Zlatko Dalic’s men broke the deadlock seven minutes into the second half when Kembo-Ekoko started and finished a one-two with Rasheed Eisa, before drilling a fierce shot past goalkeeper Mohsin Al Hashemi and into the bottom corner of the net.
Elsewhere, Al Nasr temporarily moved up to fifth place thanks to a brace from Ebrahima Toure and Pablo Hernandez’s effort at home to Kalba.
Toure’s two goals took him to second place in the AGL scoring charts with 17 goals, eight behind Al Jazira’s Mirko Vucinic.
After a first half devoid of chances, Al Nasr wasted little time in taking the lead in the second when, three minutes after the restart, Toure grabbed the first of his double.
The striker leapt high at the back post to power home a header from Hernandez’s cross.
The Blues doubled their lead in the 76th minute as Hernandez went from provider to goalscorer, opening up his body to curl a first-time shot with the inside of his right foot in at the far post from just inside the area.
Six minutes before full-time, Toure made it 3-0, lashing in a measured, low shot past Saif Rasheed from the edge of the area.
In injury time, Arabian Gulf League Rookie of the Year award contender Hussain Abbas Juma’s cross was headed against the crossbar by fellow nominee Jasem Yacoob as head coach Ivan Jovanovic continues to show faith in young blood at the Al Maktoum Stadium.
