Al Ain produced a five-star performance to crush Al Jazira to be crowned Adnoc Pro League champions with three games remaining.
The Garden City Club hammered Al Jazira 5-0 to send a partisan home crowd into wild celebrations as they extended their record of UAE league titles to 14 on Wednesday.
Kodjo Laba fired in four goals before Caio Canedo rounded off the scoring with the fifth five minutes from time at Hazza bin Zayed Stadium.
It caps a hugely successful week for Al Ain manager Serhiy Rebrov after seeing his side triumph on penalties over Shabab Al Ahli to win the Pro League Cup.
“It’s been a tremendous week to win the cup-and-league double,” the Ukrainian said.
“We knew we had the league title in the bag, needing one win from the remaining four games, and I’m glad we did in the best possible way to complete the task.
“The league title was our main objective from the outset and we have achieved that goal. I must thank my players, the technical staff, and the club management and above all, our fans, for tonight’s mission accomplished.”
The result took Al Ain’s tally to 58 points, 10 more than Sharjah who moved up to second with a 3-1 win over Khor Fakkan.
Rebrov has a month left on his contract but said he would be sitting down with the club to negotiate an extension.
“I’m proud of the results I achieved and happy with the support I have received from the club management,” he added.
“I haven’t renewed my contract but I promise not to sign for any other clubs but remain at Al Ain. I’ll have a meeting with the club's management to discuss details related to renewing my contract in the coming days.”
Al Ain win Pro League Cup final on penalties
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Caio Canedo celebrates after scoring Al Ain's second goal in the Pro League Cup final against Shabab Al Ahli at Mohamed bin Zayed Stadium in Abu Dhabi. All photos by Victor Besa / The National -
Goalkeeper Majed Naser of Shabab Al Ahli makes a save against Al Ain. -
Al Ain score their second goal during the Pro League Cup final against Shabab Al Ahli. -
Al Ain's Kodjo Laba celebrates after scoring. -
Al Ain score their second goal against Shabab Al Ahli at Mohamed bin Zayed Stadium in Abu Dhabi. -
Al Ain players celebrate their first goal. -
Shabab Al Ahli fans cheer after the opening goal by Federico Cartabia during the Pro League Cup final. -
Federico Cartabia of Shabab Al Ahli, left, is congratulated by a teammate after scoring the opening goal. -
Shabab Al Ahli goalkeeper Majed Naser complains to the referee. -
Al Ain fans during the Pro League Cup final. -
Shabab Al Ahli goalkeeper Majed Naser saves the ball. -
Shabab Al Ahli fans during the Pro League Cup final. -
Shabab Al Ahli's first goal in the Pro League Cup final. -
Al Ain fans during the the Pro League Cup final. -
Al Ain fans during the the Pro League Cup final. -
Shabab Al Ahli fans during the Pro League Cup final. -
Al Ain players show their frustration after missing a chance. -
Shabab Al Ahli fans during the the Pro League Cup final. -
Federico Cartabia of Shabab Al Ahli celebrates after scoring. -
Shabab Al Ahli players celebrate after scoring the opening goal. -
Al Ain players before the Pro League Cup final against Shabab Al Ahli at Mohamed bin Zayed Stadium in Abu Dhabi. -
Al Ain players celebrate their win at the Pro League Cup final against Shabab Al Ahli at Mohamed bin Zayed Stadium in Abu Dhabi. -
Shabab Al Ahli players celebrate their first goal at the Pro League Cup final against Shabab Al Ahli at Mohamed bin Zayed Stadium in Abu Dhabi. -
Al Ain players celebrate their win at the Pro League Cup final against Shabab Al Ahli at Mohamed bin Zayed Stadium in Abu Dhabi. -
Al Ain players celebrate their win at the Pro League Cup final against Shabab Al Ahli at Mohamed bin Zayed Stadium in Abu Dhabi.
The celebrations began as early as in the 15th minute when Laba put the finishing touches after Caio and Cristian Guanca exchanged passes.
Laba doubled the lead nine minutes before half time. He towered above the Jazira defence to meet Bandar Al Ahbabi’s cross from the right, sending a looping header past Jazira goalkeeper Ali Khaseif.
The Togolese completed his hat-trick five minutes after the interval when he finished off Soufian Rahimi's quick counter-attack before adding a fourth with a lobbed finish on 71 minutes.
Canedo then completed the rout by heading home Guanca’s free kick.
Jazira’s misery was compounded in added time when Abdoulaye Diaby was shown a red card for an elbow on Brazilian centre-back Erik Jorgens.
