Al Ahli secured a second Arabian Gulf League title in three years without even kicking a ball after their closest challengers, Al Ain, suffered a surprise defeat away to Fujairah on Thursday.
Al Ain’s shock 3-2 defeat to Fujairah means Ahli cannot be caught with a six-point cushion over their closest challengers and just one remaining fixture left after Friday’s assignment at home to Baniyas.
Al Ain were left shell-shocked by a well-organised Fujairah side who did their own hopes of surviving relegation no harm at all with these three points.
Read more:
• Jon Turner: Titles within reach for Leicester, Barcelona and Bayern: Five must-see matches this weekend
• Amith Passela: Al Ahli grasping title, Fujairah lead fight to survive: AGL talking points
• John McAuley: Al Ahli edge Al Nasr but Al Ain win delays Arabian Gulf League title celebrations
Christophe Mandanne capitalised on some comical defending to put the hosts in front after 17 minutes and the lead was doubled just past the hour-mark by Rashid Jalal’s well-taken goal.
Far from sitting back and protecting their two-goal advantage, Fujairah pressed forward in search of a third and were rewarded on 73 minutes through Patrick Eze, the Nigerian attacker drilling a bullet header that Mahmoud Al Mas failed to keep out despite getting a hand to the ball.
Zlatko Dalic will be seething with his players that it took two thirds of the game and three goals conceded to spark them into life and they threatened to rob Fujairah of a deserved three points with a late rally.
A Waleed Alyamahi own goal five minutes from time was followed up by a goal for Emirati striker Saeed Al Katheeri two minutes later but Fujairah held on for a famous win.
The victory took them level with Sharjah and Emirates on 26 points, although Fujairah still occupy the second relegation spot.
Emirates finished their match against Al Jazira with nine men after first Alhasan Saleh and Rodrigo Pimpao were sent off in a 4-2 setback to the Abu Dhabi club.
Khalfan Mubarak opened the scoring and Ali Mabkhout took his season’s tally to 22 goals with an impressive hat-trick. Alasani Diallo had two goals for Emirates sandwiched in between.
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The specs
Engine: 2.0-litre 4-cylinder turbo
Power: 240hp at 5,500rpm
Torque: 390Nm at 3,000rpm
Transmission: eight-speed auto
Price: from Dh122,745
On sale: now
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MOUNTAINHEAD REVIEW
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Specs
Engine: Electric motor generating 54.2kWh (Cooper SE and Aceman SE), 64.6kW (Countryman All4 SE)
Power: 218hp (Cooper and Aceman), 313hp (Countryman)
Torque: 330Nm (Cooper and Aceman), 494Nm (Countryman)
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Manchester United v Liverpool
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The specs
AT4 Ultimate, as tested
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Fines for littering
In Dubai:
Dh200 for littering or spitting in the Dubai Metro
Dh500 for throwing cigarette butts or chewing gum on the floor, or littering from a vehicle.
Dh1,000 for littering on a beach, spitting in public places, throwing a cigarette butt from a vehicle
In Sharjah and other emirates
Dh500 for littering - including cigarette butts and chewing gum - in public places and beaches in Sharjah
Dh2,000 for littering in Sharjah deserts
Dh500 for littering from a vehicle in Ras Al Khaimah
Dh1,000 for littering from a car in Abu Dhabi
Dh1,000 to Dh100,000 for dumping waste in residential or public areas in Al Ain
Dh10,000 for littering at Ajman's beaches
Hili 2: Unesco World Heritage site
The site is part of the Hili archaeological park in Al Ain. Excavations there have proved the existence of the earliest known agricultural communities in modern-day UAE. Some date to the Bronze Age but Hili 2 is an Iron Age site. The Iron Age witnessed the development of the falaj, a network of channels that funnelled water from natural springs in the area. Wells allowed settlements to be established, but falaj meant they could grow and thrive. Unesco, the UN's cultural body, awarded Al Ain's sites - including Hili 2 - world heritage status in 2011. Now the most recent dig at the site has revealed even more about the skilled people that lived and worked there.
Dr Afridi's warning signs of digital addiction
Spending an excessive amount of time on the phone.
Neglecting personal, social, or academic responsibilities.
Losing interest in other activities or hobbies that were once enjoyed.
Having withdrawal symptoms like feeling anxious, restless, or upset when the technology is not available.
Experiencing sleep disturbances or changes in sleep patterns.
What are the guidelines?
Under 18 months: Avoid screen time altogether, except for video chatting with family.
Aged 18-24 months: If screens are introduced, it should be high-quality content watched with a caregiver to help the child understand what they are seeing.
Aged 2-5 years: Limit to one-hour per day of high-quality programming, with co-viewing whenever possible.
Aged 6-12 years: Set consistent limits on screen time to ensure it does not interfere with sleep, physical activity, or social interactions.
Teenagers: Encourage a balanced approach – screens should not replace sleep, exercise, or face-to-face socialisation.
Source: American Paediatric Association
