Dubai: Emirates went down with Hatta as Al Wasl held on for third position on the last day of the Arabian Gulf League (AGL) season on Sunday, but a chance exists for both relegated sides to still stay in the division.
A win for Emirates and a defeat for third from bottom Al Dhafra would have seen the Ras Al Khaimah outfit leapfrog the Western Knights to avoid the drop with already-condemned Hatta.
However, in the end, Emirates drew 2-2 at home to Al Nasr. This meant the Falcons failed to take advantage of Al Dhafra’s 5-0 defeat away to champions Al Ain, who had already confirmed the title with a game to go last weekend.
Relegated Emirates and Hatta could still stay in the top flight next season however due to an anomaly. Last season the AGL went down to 12 clubs from 14 due to the surprise mergers of Al Shabab, Al Ahli and Dubai Club to form Shabab Al Ahli Dubai Club.
Sharjah and Al Shaab also merged to form Sharjah Sports and Cultural Club.
Next season, the AGL will go back up to 14 clubs after having 12 teams this season. In order to decide who join second tier champions Bani Yas and runners-up Kalba in promotion to join the AGL’s 10 remaining teams, a play-off will take place between the bottom two teams from the AGL and the third and fourth placed finishers from the second tier.
Hatta will take on third-place finishers Fujairah, who parted company with their coach Diego Maradona on Friday after failing to secure automatic promotion to the AGL, and Emirates will play fourth-placed finishers Al Hamriyah. Those games will be held over two legs on May 9 and May 13.
Elsewhere, Al Nasr’s 2-2 draw with Emirates also meant they failed to keep the pressure up on Al Wasl for third in the AGL, who secured that spot — and with it Asian Champions League qualification — with a 1-0 win away to Shabab Al Ahli Dubai Club.
In dead rubber games Al Wahda, who had already secured second beat Al Jazira 4-1, and Hatta, who were already down, beat Ajman 1-0 at home, while Sharjah beat fellow mid-table side Dibba 2-1 at home.
Al Ain were officially presented with their record extending 13th honour after their last game with Al Dhafra, but they won’t be able to fully celebrate until after their President’s Cup final against Al Wasl in Abu Dhabi on Thursday.
