Resilient Al Ahli survive a scare

Ten-man Al Ahli weathered the full fury of some attacking soccer before culling out a 2-1 win against a gutsy Al Shabab in the UAE National Football League yesterday.

Much was expected of this encounter, more so after a similar season-opener last year saw Al Ahli swamp their neighbours 5-0.

But there was no such drama this time as Al Shabab not only matched their opponents, but also redeemed themselves by creating better scoring chances.

The closest call on goal for either side came in the 24th minute when Al Shabab's Senegalese import Richard Manga blasted out a rebound off a blistering free kick from Essa Mohammad Ebrahim.

The home side suddenly upped the pressure and started enjoying a better share of the exchanges. With Salim Sa'ad coming up with some dizzy runs on either flank and Manga playing the perfect foil, the Al Ahli defence started showing signs of cracking. Three minutes from the halfway mark, Al Ahli coach Winfried Schaefer was given the marching orders for dissent, and the visitors celebrated almost immediately with a goal from substitute Omar Abdul Rahman off a clever pass from skipper Salim Khamis.

Al Shabab coach Djemal Hadji brought in his Brazilian professional Geraldo early in the second half. The home team was further assisted after referee Mohammad Omar sent Al Ahli's Mashmoom Mahmoud for an early shower, thus tilting the balance of the game. Stand-in coach Rashid Bin Mahmoud tried to plug his defence line, but without much success.

After a series of unsuccessful raids, the home team finally bagged an elusive equaliser in the 74th minute when substitute Essa Obaid rose to head in a harmless looking cross past an out of position Abdullah Moosa on the Al Ahli goal.

However, Al Ahli retorted almost immediately in the 77th when Ali Hussain relayed to an unmarked Bader Yaqoot to provide them with a match-winner.