Dubai: Shabab Al Ahli Dubai rued their lack of strikers after falling to Ajman 1-2 in Week 13 of the Arabian Gulf League (AGL) late on Sunday.
Mahdi Ali’s team continued their winless run since their 4-0 thumping of Emirates in Week Four of the competition on October 14. Now without Luvannor Henrique and Makhete Diop, they looked a jaded lot as Modibo Maiga scored a first-half brace to see Ajman register a shock 2-1 result against the six-time champions on Sunday.
Maiga took his tally of goals to six when he scored the first in the 14th minute and then doubled the score five minutes from half-time. The hosts managed to pull one back 10 minutes from the full-time whistle with Esmail Al Hammadi coming up with an acrobatic finish. The win put Ajman on 16 points, one place below Shabab Al Ahli Dubai on goal difference.
“We are missing eight main team players. Most of the top teams in the world struggle when they have even a single player missing in the line-up,” coach Mahdi Ali told media.
“As usual we were able to create chances, but then there is no goalscorer. How can a team win games without scoring goals,” the coach queried.
Up against leaders Al Ain this Friday, Shabab Al Ahli Dubai will need all resources on board. “Hopefully, we will have a few players such as Walid Abbas, Abdul Aziz Al Haikal, Khalid Esmail and Hassan Ebrahim back into the side,” Ali related.
“Al Ain is a team with the right momentum and it will be tough tackling them. But we will use everything to ensure we have the three points,” he added.
The last two matches of Week 13 will be played on Wednesday with Al Wahda hosting Al Nasr, while defending champions Al Jazira will be up against Dibba, and Abu Dhabi rivals and Super Cup winners Al Wahda face Al Nasr.
RESULTS
Shabab Al Ahli Dubai 1 Ajman 2
Al Ain 6 Hatta 2
Emirates 1 Al Wasl 4
Sharjah 2 Al Dhafra 0
FIXTURES
5.15pm Al Jazira v Dibba
7.45pm Al Wahda v Al Nasr
