Abu Dhabi: The hallmark of all great sides is the ability to win even when playing poorly, as was the case with defending Arabian Gulf League champions and leaders Al Ain on Friday.

Drawing 0-0 away at Dibba into second-half stoppage time, the Boss were set to drop two vital points and give second-place Al Ahli the chance to leapfrog them on goal difference with a win at Sharjah on Saturday.

But towering defender Esmail Ahmad had other ideas, prodding in a last-gasp winner to shatter a valiant home side, who had competed gamely with Zlatko Dalic’s esteemed side for much of the game.

The opening half-hour saw the majority of attacking possession controlled by Al Ain, but Dibba defended resolutely to minimise any serious scoring opportunities.

After 18 minutes, Al Ain’s January signing Douglas clattered the woodwork with a snap-shot from inside the box. Then, nine minutes later a training ground free-kick routine saw Danilo Asprilla and Mohammad Abdul Rahman tee up Fellipe Bastos for a trademark long-range strike, but his thumping effort narrowly sailed over the top of the crossbar as the two sides remained tied at the interval.

Defending with discipline, Dibba appeared resolute until UAE defender Ahmad popped up his 90th-minute winner, profiting from an unfortunate ricochet in the box to strike past Humaid Abdulla.

In Friday’s other early AGL game, Makhete Diop headed a late winner for Al Dhafra to help his side beat 10-man Fujairah 2-1, a vital victory in the Western Knights’ quest to avoid relegation. The result puts Al Dhafra on 17 points, still in the danger zone, but now just one point away from safety, while Fujairah remain on 19 points.

The hosts opened the scoring in the 34th minute when Ahmad Ali’s whipped corner kick was nodded in at the back post by young defender Abdul Rahman Yousuf. Ten minutes later, a curling free-kick from Patrick Eze dipped fractionally too late and the ball just failed to go in under the crossbar as Fujairah pressed for an equaliser before the break.

The equaliser arrived two minutes after the interval, however, through Eze’s cool finish.

Reduced to 10 men in the 83rd minute when Ebrahim Alalawi was shown his second yellow card, Fujairah were at a numerical disadvantage for the closing stages of the game, and Al Dhafra exploited the fact to snatch a winning goal in the 89th minute.

Adil Hermach was the provider with a pinpoint, right-footed cross, and captain Diop played his target-man role to perfection by powering a header into the back of Mohammad Salem’s net to make it 2-1.

ARABIAN GULF LEAGUE

Friday’s games

Dibba 0 Al Ain 1

Al Dhafra 2 Fujairah 1

Playing later:

Al Wahda vs Al Nasr

Saturday’s games

Al Wasl vs Al Shaab, 5.25pm

Sharjah vs Al Ahli, 8.15pm