Al Ahli seize opportunity in win over Al Wahda to top AGL table

Olaroiu’s men take advantage of Al Ain’s loss on Saturday, Al Dhafra defeat Emirates and Al Shaab are beaten at home by Sharjah. John McAuley reports.

Al Ahli players celebrate their opening goal against Al Wahda on their to a 3-0 win that took them to the top of the table. Arabian Gulf League

DUBAI // For the first time since early season, the Arabian Gulf League has a new leader.

So long the chasers, Al Ahli are now out in front, courtesy of Friday night’s 3-0 victory against 10-man Al Wahda at the Rashid Stadium. Goals from Ciel, Everton Ribeiro and Habib Fardan clinched it, bloating the scoreline when Ahli were nowhere near their best.

Where they spurned the opportunity to grab top spot in the draw at Al Dhafra last month, this time they seized it, vaulting one point above Al Ain. Defeated 2-1 by Al Shabab the previous evening, the champions have reverted to playing catch-up. This could prove a pivotal few days in the title race, indeed.

“I don’t think we have played so badly since the beginning of the season until now, especially at home,” said Cosmin Olaroiu, the Ahli coach. “The idea that we could miss the chance to go in front in the table for a second time gave us too much pressure, too much stress and we could not play and develop the game in the way we wanted.

“But we took the three points and that is the most important thing. Ahead of us, we have to forget the worries – calculating points and goals - that create this fear and play more concentrated.”

Ahli’s focus seemed spot on at the onset. The hosts were granted the perfect start, when Ciel met a dropping ball on the edge of the Wahda area in the 11th minute and thumped his shot past Adel Al Hosani. To be fair, the Wahda goalkeeper should have saved, but let the strike slip through his palms.

Instead, Ahli had an unlikely advantage, especially since the visitors begun well and, despite the setback, Wahda continued to command the majority of the play. They ultimately lost that control when Jorge Valdivia abandoned his right on half time, as the Chilean playmaker was sent off following an incident involving Khamis Esmail.

At first, Valdivia was booked for swinging a forearm, but then received a second yellow for dissent. In all reality, he should have gone for the initial infringement.

From there, Ahli were never really troubled, although they struggled to make their superiority count. However, two quick-fire goals garnished the result, with Ribeiro’s tidy breakaway and finish one minute from time and then substitute Fardan’s tap-in moments later.

Ahli had their victory. A potentially decisive one in the battle for the top flight.

Emirates 1-2 Al Dhafra

Al Dhafra took the spoils in what they dubbed a ‘six-pointer’, defeating their relegation rivals courtesy of goals from Omar Khribin and Ahmed Ali either side of a Brett Holman strike. The win lifted Dhafra up one spot, to 12th.

Al Shaab 0-2 Sharjah

Al Shaab’s fate is almost sealed following their derby defeat. First-half goals from Ricardo and Wanderley sealed it for Sharjah, who climbed to 10th. Shaab remain rock bottom, 14 points from safety.

Follow us on Twitter @NatSportUAE

Like us on Facebook at facebook.com/TheNationalSport