Al Nasr 0-1 Al Ahli
Sow 49’ (pen)
STORY OF MATCH:
DUBAI // One down for Al Ahli, just another one to go.
The Arabian Gulf League leaders, six points clear at the top with two rounds remaining, have one hand firmly on the title, a seventh top-flight crown and a second in three seasons, after carving a narrow victory from a dogged encounter with Al Nasr at Al Maktoum Stadium on Sunday night.
Al Ain, second to Ahli and the reigning champions, had kept the pressure on by winning earlier in the evening, but Ahli stuck to their task, gleaning the points via a Moussa Sow spot-kick.
If consensus dictates it a sign of champions to eke out victories without playing particularly well, then Ahli can be awarded the trophy now. Against Nasr, they were not at their best, but the leaders still did enough, still got over the line when other teams would not have been able to draw on a champion’s reserve.
Yet Ahli have already displayed that in abundance this campaign, not least in sweeping into the final of the Asian Champions League while maintaining a domestic challenge.
Against Nasr, they created few opportunities, other than a couple of efforts from the impressive Ismail Al Hammadi and the odd shot from Sow or substitute Ciel late on. However, they secured three vital points not long into the second half, after Ahmed Ibrahim clattered into Ahmed Khalil in the area and left Sow to take full advantage from the penalty spot.
Ahli did survive a late scare, though, when Salem Saleh, another substitute, shuddered the crossbar with a header. Result eventually secure, Ahli simply require a solitary point from their remaining two matches. Baniyas, at home on Friday, should provide it.
WHAT THE MANAGERS SAID:
Jovanovic: "The third position is not in our hands, we have to fight for third in the league and to qualify for the next stage in the Champions League. I would be happier if we could decide our chances of finishing third due to our results, but right now we need to do what's in our hands, have to try to win the remaining two games, and wait on the other results. We have seen in this league that anything can happen, so we believe we can achieve this aim."
Olaroiu: "We make one more step in front. But the title is not decided and we have to be concentrated and have a good performance in the next stage. I hope the players take this and now have this winning mentality and don't give up. I hope we continue in the same way. I told the players before the match 'the title, you can touch it and feel it, now it's up to you if you want to take it'. It depends only on us."
MAN OF THE MATCH:
Habib Fardan — The UAE midfielder has not started many matches since Khamis Esmail's arrival, but he shone from the onset against his former club. Was disciplined and tidy in possession too, allowing the attacking quartet ahead of him to try to break the deadlock.
NATIONAL VERDICT:
Ahli stuck expertly to their task despite not playing with the sort of verve that positions them as the league’s top scorers. Yet the division’s meanest defence contributed significantly again to keep at bay Nasr and Ahli on course for the title. Meanwhile, NAsr’s top-three chances look almost done.
AGL ROUND-UP:
Al Ain kept alive their slim chances of holding on to the Arabian Gulf League title with a 3-0 victory at home against relegated Al Shaab on Sunday.
The UAE champions closed the gap on leaders Al Ahli to three points, albeit briefly, courtesy of two goals from Douglas and own goal from Sultan Saif. Shaab, rooted to the bottom of the table for the majority of the season, concluded the match with 10 men, when Mansour Al Blooshi was given a second yellow 10 minutes into the second half.
Al Ain next face Fujairah on Thursday in their penultimate fixture of the league campaign, although they need an unlikely sequence of results to prevent the top-flight crown going to rivals Ahli.
At the other end of the standings, Fujairah gave themselves hope of beating the drop by defeating Al Jazira 3-1 at the Mohammed bin Zayed Stadium.
Two goals from striker Patrick Eze either side of a Hassan Maatouk strike was enough to seal a comeback win for the visitors, after Thiago Neves had given Jazira an early lead. It was a difficult night for the hosts, who had Abdullah Mousa and coach Henk ten Cate sent off, while Khalfan Mubarak missed a penalty.
The victory keeps Fujairah second bottom, however they moved to within three points of safety, with Sharjah and Emirates on equal points heading into the final two rounds of the season.
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