Dubai: Ahmad Khalil scored the only goal of the match as Al Ahli came within smelling distance of a seventh crown with a 1-0 win against defending champions and title contenders Al Ain in their 23rd round action of the Arabian Gulf League (AGL) on Thursday.

With three rounds of action remaining,

The win ensured Al Ahli’s reign at the top of the standings with 59 points, distancing themselves by six points from their closest challengers and former 12-time league champions. Al Ahli still have to play Al Nasr (April 24), Bani Yas (April 29) and finally already relegated Al Shaab (May 8).

Al Ain have Al Shaab (April 24), Fujairah (April 28) and Emirates Club, Ras Al Khaimah when the curtains come down on the AGL on May 8.

The fight, in fact, is more intense for the third spot – and an automatic entry into next season’s Asian Champions League. Al Wahda is in third with 36 points, followed by the trio of Dubai clubs, Al Wasl (35), Al Nasr (34) and Al Shabab (32) and Al Jazira in seventh with 31 points following their hard-fought 3-2 win against Al Shaab earlier on Thursday evening.

Al Ahli were deserving winners on the night. They did everything better than the defending champions. And when they got an opportunity, they scored, and that was enough to guarantee themselves full points and a potential crack at a seventh title.

The home team had a close call on the Al Ain goal as early as the fourth minute but Ahmad Khalil’s clever deflection off a Ciel cross narrowly missed the target. On the 28th minute, Ciel came in possession at the edge of the box, but his first-time curler went wide off the goal.

Al Ain immediately responded through Asprilla as his stinging shot went straight into the waiting hands of Majid Hassan on the Al Ahli goal.

Finally the packed stadium saw a goal. Awarded a free kick on the right flank in the 38th minute, Everton Ribeiro sent the ball goalwards and Khalil darted in to nick in a header at the near post that caught the entire defence and goalkeeper Khalid Eisa off-guard.

The second half belonged in major chunks to the visiting team, and barring the odd counter-attack, Al Ahli looked content in defending their narrow margin.

The home goal had the narrowest of escapes in the 74th minute when a Diaky shot was parried away by Majid Nasser and the resultant deflection could not be guided into the goal by at least two Al Ain players present in front of goal.

The home side got two clear opportunities towards the end of the match, but first Moussa Sow's shot strayed wide in the 88th minute and then substitute Esmail Hammadi failed to punch into a wide open goal way into the five-minute injury period.

 

RESULTS

Al Shaab 2-3 Al Jazira

Al Ahli 1-0 Al Ain