Dubai: Al Ahli was relieved after snatching full points against neighbours and arch-rivals Al Shabab with a 2-0 win in eighth round action of the Arabian Gulf League (AGL) on Thursday.
Al Ahli’s Brazilian striker Rodrigo Lima scored both goals as they maintained their cent per cent record with six wins from as many matches for maximum 18 points. That puts them within a point of leaders and defending champions Al Ain, who are scheduled to play Al Nasr in their ninth round encounter in Dubai on Saturday.
Both goals from Lima came from dead-ball situations — the first a well-curled free kick over the defensive wall on the stroke of the half-hour mark to cancel out Jo Alves’ 17th minute penalty — and the second from the spot a minute from the hour.
“This was a very, very important win for us against a very good team. Things have been difficult for us after the loss in the final of the AFC Champions League and it has been quite a task to get the players ready mentally,” Al Ahli’s assistant coach Catalin Raducan told media.
“So considering this situation it was important for us to come here and get the three points so that we can get rid of at least part of the gloom in the dressing room. All credit to the players for it was certainly not easy to bounce back from such a depressing loss in the Asian final,” he added.
The loss aside, Al Ahli has been down also due to the long travel and a few injuries among the main players. And things are not going to get easy in the next few days as they face Al Jazira (November 30), Al Ain (December 5) and Al Nasr (December 11).
“Everybody is sad because we missed a big chance in the Asian Champions League. But the reality now is that we have to turn our attention to the AGL and try and win all matches so that we can be genuine contenders for the title,” Raducan said.
Al Shabab coach Caio Junior felt his team had been denied a win by the referee. “I refuse to believe that was a penalty. I watched the video after the match and I saw no contact at all. He [the referee] got it wrong,” Caio fumed.
“We were good in the first half and Al Ahli got one chance due to a foul and they scored. And then came the penalty even though our player [Manei Mohammad] didn’t touch anyone. We have lost a game because of the penalty. We at least deserved a draw, if not a win,” he added.