Dubai: Defending champions Al Ahli were held to a goalless draw at home to Bani Yas on Saturday in their last game before coach Cosmin Olaroiu temporarily takes charge of Saudi Arabia for next month’s Asian Cup in Australia.

The result leaves The Red Knights sixth in the Arabian Gulf League and eight points from top at the half way stage in the season, casting doubts over Olaroiu’s return should he succeed with The Green Falcons.

Fujairah also lifted themselves out of the relegation zone and dumped Ajman into the bottom two with a 1-0 win at home to the Orange Brigade on Saturday, thanks to a lone first half goal from Boubacar Sonogo.

Emirates had similarly pulled clear of the bottom four and condemned rock bottom Ittihad Kalba with a 1-0 win at home on Friday, after a lone second half strike from Luiz Enrique.

Al Wahda, who had led the Arabian Gulf League from the start of the season until a recent decline, managed to stay in contention two points off top in fourth with a 2-0 win away to fifth placed Al Nasr, after a second half brace from Sebastian Tagliabue.

The Maroons are now level on points with Al Shabab, who beat Al Dhafra 2-1 away on Thursday. Makhete Diop cancelled out Eisa Mohammad’s opener in the first half but Carlos Villanueva fought back for the winner.

Al Jazira maintained their position at the top of the table with a 4-2 at home to Al Wasl on Friday. Caio Correa and Ederson Alves scored either side of the interval to cancel out Jucilei Da Silva’s early opener, despite having gone a man down when Waheed Esmail was sent off for a second bookable offence. However, Mirko Vucinic, Jonathon Pitroipa and Ali Mabkhout fought back for victory in the second half.

Second-placed Al Ain continued to pressurise Al Jazira with a 4-1 win at home to Sharjah on Thursday, which dumped Sharjah into relegation danger. Wanderley Santos cancelled out Asamoah Gyan’s opener before Miroslav Stoch, Lee Myeong-ju and Jires Kembo-Ekoko secured the win.

Al Jazira’s league lead looks precarious however, as Al Ain have two games in hand having had Asian Champions League commitments earlier in the season. Al Shabab and Fujairah, are the two sides Al Ain are still to play. Either Al Ain or Al Shabab can go top with victory in Monday’s re-arranged fixture between the two in Al Mamza on Monday. And Al Ain can either strengthen or re-assert their position with a re-arranged game at home to Fujairah on February 4, before the season restarts after the Asian Cup break.