Al Nasr, Shabab Al Ahli Dubai in goalless draw

Dubai: Al Nasr and Shabab Al Ahli Dubai played out an insipid goalless draw in the 20th round of the Arabian Gulf League (AGL) late on Friday.

Not even challengers to the top two – Al Ain and Al Wahda - Al Nasr continued in third place with 36 points, while Shabab Al Ahli Dubai remained in fifth position with 28 following the draw. Both teams have two matches each with Al Nasr scheduled to play likely champions Al Ain and Emirates Club, while the Ghusais club need to contend with Al Dhafra and Al Wasl on dates that are yet to be finalized by the Pro League Committee (PLC).

For the time-being it looks like Al Ain are headed towards a record 13th league crown following their 4-0 thrashing of Dibba and take their tally to 47 points earlier on Friday, while Al Wahda – who are scheduled to play Sharjah on Saturday – are seven points adrift with 40.

In an encounter that barely witnessed many goal-worthy moves throughout, it was the visiting team coming closest in the first half when an Abdul Aziz Barrada strike in the 38th minute strayed past the upright.

Shabab Al Ahli Dubai could have sealed maximum points on the night two minutes from the hour mark, but Ahmad Shambieh brought off a timely save from a Makhete Diop header.

On the 80th minute, goalkeeper and skipper Majid Nasser kept the home team in the game with a straight save from Al Nasr’s Brazilian striker Marcelo Da Silva in a one-on-one situation.

Other than these sprinkled goal-worthy moves, play remained restricted to the midfield and when the final whistle went off it was the meager crowd that seemed most pleased.

RESULTS