After the latest round of Arabian Gulf League fixtures, John McAuley provides his review, including his player of the week and the big talking points.
THE RESULTS:
Emirates 4-2 Al Wasl
Al Nasr 1-1 Al Shabab
Al Shaab 1-4 Al Wahda
Al Ain 2-0 Al Jazira
Al Ahli 2-1 Dibba Al Fujairah
Al Dhafra 2-0 Baniyas
Fujairah 2-1 Sharjah
PLAYER OF WEEK:
Sebastian Tagliabue, Al Wahda: The Argentine notched a hat-trick at Al Shaab to top the scoring charts, having netted nine times already. There was nothing particularly remarkable about each of his goals in Sharjah, but Tagliabue continues to display a nose for an opportunity and a deadly finish. In 10 matches across all competitions this season, he has 13 goals.
TALKING POINTS:
First coach shown the door
By AGL standards, it has taken a while, but there has now been a managerial casualty. Al Shaab parted company with Tarek El Ashry after the Egyptian guided them to only one point from seven matches, with Friday’s 4-1 home defeat to Al Wahda the final straw. Shaab, bottom of the table, have a shortlist of four potential replacements.
Relief for Banide
Where El Ashry had gone, many expected Laurent Banide to follow. The Al Dhafra coach was reportedly feeling the pressure, since his team had yet to win in six matches this season. However, on Saturday they defeated the previously unbeaten Baniyas to give Banide a reprieve. The Frenchman is a talented manager at this level — he deserves more time.
Two-way tussle for title?
It is early days yet, of course, but the battle for the AGL crown already seems set to be between Al Ain and Al Ahli. The champions are the top of the table, with their greatest rivals leapfrogging Al Nasr into second, despite having played two games less. Expect the league’s ‘big two’ to stay there.
QUOTE OF THE WEEK:
“Mathematically speaking, this is impossible. We are going to continue the hard work and have players with an offensive attitude, but we lack other aspects.” – Abel Braga, the Al Jazira coach, dismisses his side’s title chances following their 2-0 defeat to Al Ain.
STAT OF THE WEEK:
12,417 — Attendance at the Hazza bin Zayed Stadium for Friday night’s ‘Al Clasico’ between Al Ain and Al Jazira.
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