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.
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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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