Dubai: Hatta and Emirates Club looked destined for relegation, even as Shabab Al Ahli Dubai and ten-man Al Wasl fetched full points in Friday’s penultimate-round action of the Arabian Gulf League (AGL).

Stuck at the other end of the 12-team standings, Dibba rode on a 65th-minute goal from Rodolfo da Silva for a 1-0 win against Emirates Club to pull themselves away into ninth place with 21 points. Their guests, however, were left in 11th position with 16 points and a high possibility of slipping into relegation for next season.

With one final round still to go, it looks like Hatta will have to start preparing life in a lower division after substitute Ali Saleh Ali set up one and scored another to lead 10-man Al Wasl to full points with an inspiring 2-0 result against the visitors from the other end of Dubai.

At the end of the first half, Al Wasl had 63 per cent possession, but that counted for little as they were also one player down after Ronaldo Mendes received a straight red by referee Mohammad Obaid Khadim in the 24th minute for a debatable push on Mahmoud Qasim.

But Al Wasl managed the situation perfectly with two goals in ten minutes to take the full points, and at least temporarily displace neighbours Al Nasr in third place. After being tied 0-0 at half-time, it was Ali ringing in the cheer for the home side with his lovely touches.

Coming in place of Australian Anthony Caceres in the 59th minute, Ali brought things to life when the left-winger showed pace and acceleration to first set up Caio Canedo’s easy tap-in on the hour. Nine minutes later, Ali was in the right place at the correct moment to pump in a first time volley giving Obaid Thani no chance at all on the Hatta goal.

Shabab Al Ahli Dubai remained stagnant in fifth position despite securing a hard-fought 2-1 away win against Al Dhafra in the third match of the day. Tied goalless at half-time, Shabab Al Ahli Dubai opened the scoring through Walid Anbar in the 51st minute, only to see the home team draw level through Mohammad Abdullah Al Hammadi in the 72nd minute.

But the visitors from Dubai bagged full points on the road when Erceg Ante netted a perfect free-kick in what proved to be the match-winner in the 78th minute to take Shabab Al Ahli’s Dubai tally up to 31 points, but no change in their fifth position. Their opponents remained slipped by a spot into tenth with their tally of 18 and a match still in hand.