Dubai: Bani Yas’ eight-year stay in the Arabian Gulf League came to an end on Wednesday when they were relegated following a 4-4 draw at home to fellow strugglers Emirates.
Harry Novillo cancelled out Osman Sow’s 23rd minute opener on 25 minutes to pull Bani Yas level.
The hosts then went ahead through Jean Mendy on 38 minutes before Mourad Batna equalised for Emirates just two minutes before the break to make it 2-2 at half-time.
A Sebastian Saez own goal after the hour and Novillo’s second 10 minutes from time put Bani Yas 4-2 up, but then Emirates replied late on through Ahmad Malalla and Saez on 85 and 94 minutes to nick a point and condemn the Sky Blues to the second tier.
Other relegation threatened sides Dibba and Kalba, who are lurching just above the drop zone, also drew on Wednesday, leaving second-from-bottom Emirates two points off safety behind Dibba and Kalba with one game remaining.
Emirates now play Al Nasr at home next Saturday, May 13, knowing they need victory and one of either Dibba or Kalba to lose, in order to survive.
Dibba held Al Wahda to a 2-2 away draw on Wednesday, fighting back from 2-0 down after an eighth minute own goal from Saeed Mohammad and 19th minute second from Sebastian Tagliabue, put the hosts in control.
But then the visitors came back with efforts on 35 and 55 minutes from Wanderley Sousa and Bruno Moraes. Dibba’s last game of the season will be at home to Sharjah next Saturday.
Elsewhere, Kalba held second-placed Al Ahli to a 1-1 draw at home after Salem Shaker’s 55th minute equaliser cancelled out Everton Ribeiro’s 44th minute opener. Kalba now face Al Ain, who are chasing a top three finish, away in their last game of the season next Saturday.
Al Ain temporarily overtook Al Wasl for third on Wednesday with a 4-2 win away to Sharjah, ahead of Al Wasl’s hosting of Al Shabab late on Thursday.
Al Ain’s Danilo Asprilla overturned Gelmin Rivas’ 16th minute opener for Sharjah on 24 minutes. Nasser Al Shamrani then put Al Ain in front on 55 minutes before Amer Omar pulled it back for Sharjah on 76 minutes. Al Ain then won it with goals on 82 and 84 minutes from Al Shamrani and Mohammad Khalfan.
In Wednesday’s only other game, already-crowned champions Al Jazira beat Al Nasr 1-0 at home thanks to an 82nd minute strike from Ahmad Al Hashmi to continue their quest to break a record haul of points and wins per season. The record for most wins since the league turned professional in 2008/09 is 21 set by Al Ahli last season, which Al Jazira have equalled with this latest win.
They can now overtake that with victory at home to Al Dhafra next Saturday, and if they do that they will also break the most points record of 66 also set by Al Ahli last season.
