Al Shabab closed the gap on Arabian Gulf League leaders Al Ain to three points on Saturday with a 2-0 away win over Sharjah.
The result took them above Al Jazira into second spot, having played one game more than their title rivals.
Al Ain travel to Ras Al Khaimah today for a meeting with Emirates and Jazira play Al Nasr at Al Maktoum stadium in Dubai.
Dawood Ali opened the scoring for Shabab in the 19th minute, and Henrique Luvannor doubled the lead four minutes later. Shabab preserved the lead with some solid defending in the second half.
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Ali fired home from a cross by Uzbek international Azizbek Haydarov for his first league goal of the season before Luvannor completed a fine move from Haydarov and Rashid Hassan.
In Saturday’s other action, Ederson Alves scored an injury-time equaliser for Al Wasl to extend their unbeaten streak to five games following their 2-2 draw at Baniyas.
The Brazilian picked up a pass inside the box from substitute Abdulaziz Fayez and sent it past the charging Baniyas keeper Mohsin Al Hashmi to deny Baniyas a first win in five games.
Caio had put the visitors ahead in the 26th minute from a one-on-one against Al Hashmi after Fabio de Lima split the Baniyas defence with a superb through pass.
Joan Verdu cancelled the lead 10 minutes later with a penalty kick after the Wasl keeper Yousuf Abdulla obstructed Bandar Al Ahbabi.
Wasl had a couple of chances to regain the lead. Lima’s sliding effort inside the six-yard line flew over the crossbar, and Alves’ header on a follow-through smashed against the post.
However, it was Baniyas who took the lead. Verdu lobbed a pass towards Imad Khalili, the Palestine forward who replaced Fawaz Awana on the 62nd minute, to stab it to the far side of the net for a 2-1 lead on the 70th minute.
Elsewhere, Fujairah rallied from two goals down to clinch 3-2 away triumph over last-place Kalba.
Said Fatah put the hosts ahead in the 29th minute and Ibrahim Abdullah Murad stuck six minutes into the second half for a 2-0 lead, making a fair case for a possible third win in 20 league games.
But another surprise victory was not meant to be. Kalba were reduced to 10 men when Suleiman Yousuf was sent off for his second bookable offence, and Fujairah made the most of the numerical advantage.
Hassan Maatouk reduced the lead in the 64th minute, and Waleed Al Yammahi scored the equaliser in the 86th. Just when it looked like the game was heading for a draw, Maatouk struck the winner with a minute left.
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