Shabab Al Ahli edge seven-goal thriller to end Sharjah’s perfect record

Iranian midfielder Mehdi Gheyadi comes off the bench to score twice in 4-3 victory

Shabab Al Ahli’s centre-back Hamdan Al Kamali wins a header. Courtesy PLC

Shabab Al Ahli clinched a seven-goal thriller to end Sharjah’s perfect in the Adnoc Pro League at Rashid stadium on Saturday.

Mahdi Ali’s side were only ahead when Mehdi Gheyadi scored for the second time in what proved to be the winner in a 4-3 victory.

Bernard Duarte gave the visitors a flying start inside 60 seconds before Gheyadi's first of the night restored parity on 48 minutes.

Sharjah’s Brazilian midfielder Caio Lucas regained Sharjah's lead 10 minutes later but compatriot Igor Jesus equalised on 63 minutes from a spot kick after the Shabab Al Ahli central defender Walid Abbas was brought down inside the penalty area.

Sharjah went ahead for a third time when their Congolese forward Ben Malango capitalised on a defensive error for a 3-2 lead.

A Salim Sultan own goal drew Shabab Al Ahli level at 3-3 and both sides appeared to be headed for a share of the spoils before Gheyadi worked his way through the heart of the Sharjah defence and placed the ball into the far left three minutes into added time.

In the early game on the night, Al Wahda returned with a point against Al Wasl after a 1-1 draw at Zabeel Stadium.

The home side took an early lead when Ali Salmeen finished off a pass from Ramiro Benneti off a counter-attack on six minutes before Joao Pedro struck the equaliser for the visitors just before the break.