Dubai: Al Nasr and Shabab Al Ahli Dubai kept things late for hard-earned victories against lower-ranked rivals in the two early matches of Round 19 of the Arabian Gulf League (AGL), on Friday.
Down by an early goal, Al Nasr fought back for a 2-1 win over Hatta, while Shabab Al Ahli Dubai struck a minute away from the final whistle to return home with a vital 1-0 win against Dibba in yesterday’s early action of the league.
Just when it looked like Shabab Al Ahli were headed for yet another draw in Dibba — which could have been their 10th so far this season, Walid Abbas struck in the 89th minute for full points for the team from Dubai.
In the second match played in Al Aweer, Al Nasr fought back from an Omar Midani goal before Marcelo da Silva got the equaliser and Rashid Omar’s fortunate strike in the 88th minute handed them full points.
Al Nasr’s win took them into third place with 35 points, thus putting additional pressure on neighbours Al Wasl who are now in fourth with 32 points and a match in hand against Al Dhafra on Saturday. Shabab Al Ahli Dubai displaced reigning champions Al Jazira in fifth place with 27 points.
Hatta meanwhile continued in the drop zone in eleventh place while being stuck on 13 points, while Dibba looked more comfortable and further away from relegation fears with their 18 points in ninth place. The standings of course could witness a slight change later in the night with Emirates Club scheduled to take on second-placed Al Wahda in the capital.
Played in Al Aweer the match between Al Nasr and Hatta didn’t particularly rise to any sensible level barring those two goals. It was the visitors snatching the lead as early as the 15th minute when central defender Omar Midani was quick to lend his head to a long ball drifted in by Mahmoud Qasim. It was only after the goal that the home side started being earnest in their forays on the Hatta goal.
They should have drawn level and even gone clear, had they made use of all the opportunities that came their way. First it was young Fawaz Awana hitting the ball straight to a waiting AbdullahAl Qamish, and then it was Marcelo da Silva making a mess of things. However, the Brazilian made amends in the 38th minute when his weak volley off a long Rashid Omar ball evaded the reach of Hatta goalkeeper Al Qamish.
The home team continued dominating in second half as well, but once again it was Hatta coming close to a goal with a Maher Jasem shot was well anticipated by Ahmad Shambieh on the Al Nasr goal. The home team could have sealed the three points in the 75th minute but Al Qamish brought off a spectacular reflex save off a Joan Oumari header.
Al Nasr finally got lucky in the 88th minute while a harmless looking ball from Omar went past Al Qamish.
