Al Ain surge to top of table despite a draw

Al Ahli 0 Al Ain 0
Sharjah 5 Al Jazira 2

Thousands of Al Ain Club supporters returned to Al Ain in joy despite their club was held to a goalless draw by Al Ahli in the 19th stage of the First division league at Rashid stadium yesterday.

The Al Ain supporters, who went out of Al Ahli stadium singing and hoisting the violet flags, were delighted after they were informed that their nearest rivals Al Wahda and Al Jazira lost their league matches yesterday. Al Wahda lost to Al Shabab 1-0 and Al Jazira were whipped 5-2 by Sharjah.

Al Ain are in the driving seat with 37 points and a game in hand against Al Ittihad next Monday. If Al Ain win that game they will increase their tally to 40, giving a five-point difference with second-placed Al Wahda redeem their league title, which they lost to Al Wahda last season.

Both the teams attacked from the word go with the both coaches instructing their defenders to make the key strikers of their rivals. Ali Karimi of Ahli was marked by Juma Khater of Al Ain, while Arthur Moses and Mohammed Omer of Al Ain were under the close watch of Ahli defenders Mohammed Qassim, Mashmoom, and Jasim Akbar.

Karimi tried to go past Khater, who brought him down at the edge of the box. Adel Abdul Aziz's free kick was blocked by Al Ain defenders in the 23rd minute. Walid Salim, the Al Ain custodian, saved Karimi's powerful header to the corner in 31st minute following a cross from Jasim Akbar.

Rasheed bin Mahmood of Ahli, who used to play in the midfield, played in the frontline yesterday to ease the pressure on Karimi from Al Ain defence. The two teams shared the attacks rest of the first half without real threats to the goalkeepers.

In the second session, Ahli began to attack and Karimi's shot went over the crossbar, while Ahmed Shah's attempt was blocked by Walid Salim. Moses advanced from the right and the cross was cleared by Ahli defenders.

Al Ain coach brought in Joel Tiehi to play with three strikers, but Ahli defence closed all the gaps and denied them of any scoring chances. Ali Karimi's clever free kick was saved by Walid Salim in the 77th minute to the corner.

Al Ain began to defend well in the final minutes after news came from Abu Dhabi and Sharjah that Al Wahda and Al Jazira have lost. The three brothers Fahd, Salim, and Abdullah Ali with Juma Khater kept Karimi and his teammates at bay till the final whistle.

In the second match played at Sharjah stadium, Sharjah outplayed Al Jazira 5-2 to put an end for Jazira's dream of winning the league title. Osman Assas scored a hat-trick for Sharjah and Saeed Al Kass hit two goals, while James Debbah scored a brace for Jazira. With the win Sharjah jumped to fifth place with 27 points while Jazira stayed third with 34 points.