Dubai: Struggling Ajman held defending Arabian Gulf League champions Al Ahli to a goalless draw at Rashid Stadium here on matchday four of the new season yesterday.
Esmail Al Hammadi came closest to breaking the deadlock when he hit a post from a scrambled cross just before the interval, while Ajman’s best effort came from a mazy Ahmad Malalla run after the half-hour.
The result stabilises the Orange Brigade’s poor start to the season following losses to Al Jazira and Al Ain either side of a 1-1 away draw away to Al Dhafra.
But for Al Ahli it begs more questions of their ability to retain the title after wins away to Sharjah and Al Wasl were bookended by a shock 4-2 defeat at home to Al Shabab.
Hugo Viana squandered two chances in front of goal for the Red Knights, having been played into the box by Grafite’s back-heel and Luis Jimenez’s cross either side of the half-hour mark.
Ajman’s Malalla should have taken advantage of Al Ahli’s wastefulness before the break after running on to to a long ball upfield and rounding two defenders, before he was denied by goalkeeper Majed Nasser.
Both Abdul Aziz Sanqoor and Jimenez were equally found wanting when they struck over the crossbar in a late flurry of chances preceding Al Hammadi’s shot against the woodwork.
Sanqoor missed another opportunity after the break after receiving a long ball from defence and pulling back inside to lose his marker, only to shoot wide. Grafite then hit the post from Viana’s free-kick was put through on goal by Jimenez and struck over from Al Hammadi’s cross, all in quick succession before the hour, but all three chances were ruled offside.
Al Ahli brought Ahmad Khalil on for Abdul Aziz Al Haikal to try and find a goal, but the striker’s first opportunity was deflected out for a corner and he missed a scramble from the resultant cross moments later.
Viana completed the frustration for Al Ahli by shooting over from a last-chance cross.
