Dubai: Al Wasl, Al Ain, Shabab Al Ahli Dubai and Al Nasr were among the gainers at the end of fourth round action in the Arabian Gulf League (AGL) over the weekend.
Al Wasl showed true grit with a fighting 2-1 win against early leaders Al Wahda on Friday night, while former champions Al Ain kept pace with new league leaders after overcoming a two-goal deficit to win 3-2 against new entrants Ajman.
Shabab Al Ahli Dubai shrugged off a 1-2 loss to Al Ain to thrash Emirates Club 4-0, while Al Nasr played a patient game for a 3-1 result against a gutsy Dibba.
Last round’s performances sees Al Wasl and Al Ain at the top of the standings with ten points each followed by Shabab Al Ahli Dubai and Al Wahda in third and fourth with nine points apiece. Al Nasr, who had shown good form with a 4-2 victory over defending champions Al Jazira in the third round, continued their resurgence under Cesar Prandelli with a 3-1 win over a resolute Dibba. Al Nasr are now in fifth place with seven points followed by Dibba in sixth with six points.
The lower half of the standings is propped up by Al Dhafra with five points followed by Emirates Club and defending champions Al Jazira with four points each. Hatta bagged their first points of the season with a 3-2 win over Sharjah and move away from the cellar, while Sharjah remain with just one point in eleventh place.
Perhaps, the heartbreak of the week fell at the feet of new entrants Ajman as they took a surprising 2-0 lead in the first quarter of the opening period. And just when it looked like Ajman was headed to a first-ever AGL victory in nearly three years of playing in the premier competition, the former 12-time champions came roaring back for a 3-2 result.
Ajman’s last win had come way back in December 2014 after they had got the better of Emirates Club 2-0 in Round 12 of the 2014-‘15 season. But that bit of personal triumph for Egyptian coach Ayman Al Ramadi had to wait as Al Ain responded with quick goals through Tsukasa Shiotani and a brace from Dyanfrez Douglas to avoid early embarrassment at the hands of a debuting side.
