Can Ahli retain focus?
Within minutes of his side contributing their finest performance of the season, Cosmin Olaroiu had already set sights on Al Ahli’s next match.
A trip to Al Dhafra is never easy, but the Ahli coach warned this would represent the real test for the UAE champions.
They should heed his concern. Yes, Ahli were excellent against Al Jazira on Saturday, winning 4-2, but motivating the mind for a duel with potential title rivals is never difficult. In holding less-lofty aspirations, Dhafra form another type of assignment.
Ahli have floundered against supposedly weaker opposition twice thus far in meek draws against Ajman and Fujairah, so Olaroiu was wise to urge caution.
If the Dubai club are to retain their crown, they must focus on these fixtures. The Thursday visit to the Western Region demands it. Fail to register a victory, that long journey home will prove an even more uncomfortable one.
Al Ain’s missing stars
The Asian Champions League has dominated Al Ain’s 2014, but they have been quietly going about their business in matters closer to home. They have won three of four league matches, and have two games in hand – a remnant from their continental run, which concluded last month at the semi-final stage. If they had full points from those, Al Ain would be sitting top of the table.
They will expect another victory Wednesday, when they host Emirates at the Hazza bin Zayed Stadium. The only worry, though, is winning three points without, possibly, three of their star performers: Omar Abdulrahman, Asamoah Gyan and Jires Kembo Ekoko. The trio seem set to skip the encounter because of injury, although Kembo Ekoko could still make it. Or, as one would anticipate, to ensure the trio are fit and ready for next week’s testing trip to Ahli.
Battle at the bottom
Fujairah and Kalba are in similar situations. Each is new to the league this season and, at the moment, each have the rest of the league above them in the table. Kalba have one point from six matches, Fujairah three from five.
Their clash Wednesday is a must-win for both. It is still early days in the 2014/15 campaign, but the promoted pair have already taken residence in their expected positions.
Sterner tests await, placing even greater importance of gaining a result here.
For that, Fujairah appear the most obvious victors, given they have already eked out draws against Al Jazira and Ahli. Kalba, meanwhile, have done little to suggest they will survive. One positive, though: Fujairah were awful last Friday, thrashed 5-1 at Al Nasr.
Shabab need a response
There is much to like about Al Shabab. The Dubai club, with their typically sparse support and more modest budget, have for a long time punched above their weight.
Last season, they represented Ahli’s main challengers for 20 rounds, before sliding to fourth. At the Rashid bin Maktoum Stadium, they emphasise stability, faith in promotion from within.
The only surprise came in the summer, when Marcos Paqueta, their long-serving coach, departed.
However, Shabab responded in typical fashion, triumphing in their opening three matches, twice against elite sides, in Ahli and Nasr. They require another rousing now.
Since the third of those victories, Shabab have lost consecutive games and were uncharacteristically poor last time out at Baniyas.
So they must stop the rot Wednesday, when they entertain an inconsistent Sharjah.
Caio Junior, Paqueta’s replacement, is not one to panic, but he will have been perturbed by his side’s recent toil.
Jazira set for more blues?
If Jazira are the division’s most potent side, their prowess up top has not been mirrored at the back.
In six league matches, the Abu Dhabi side have conceded 14 goals, the second-worst figure in the top flight. Only Kalba, last in the table, have been more generous.
It does not augur well for a club who came into the campaign with ambitions of winning the championship.
Eric Gerets, the Jazira coach, has repeatedly aired his grievances, and following Saturday’s 4-2 defeat to Ahli, the Belgian began to sound like a broken record.
“Too many stupid mistakes,” he said. Gerets said his squad would spend the following days in lengthy discussion, and that if they can learn their lesson, eventually those misjudgements will be eradicated. Jazira have an opportunity Thursday to prove the inquisition was successful. Only thing is, they host Nasr, sitting second in the standings after their rout of Fujairah.
jmcauley@thenational.ae
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