Recently-crowned Arabian Gulf League champions Al Ain returned to winning ways with a 1-0 victory over Baniyas, while Al Nasr produced a second-half onslaught to defeat Kalba.
Having reclaimed the title they lost to Al Ahli last season, Al Ain evidently struggled for motivation in their goalless draw at Al Wahda last week.
However, French forward Jires-Kembo Ekoko ensured his side collected all three points against Baniyas after scoring the decisive goal seven minutes after the interval.
Al Ain coach Zlatko Dalic opted to leave star man Omar Abdulrahman on the bench, and his absence was notable by Al Ain’s lack of attacking penetration and fluidity.
On-loan winger Miroslav Stoch posed a fleeting danger to the Baniyas backline, while chances were few and far between for striker Asamoah Gyan.
Ultimately, the champions did enough to secure the victory, although the performance was clearly one of a team that have already achieved their title ambitions.
Superior Nasr cruise past bottom side Kalba
Al Nasr comfortably saw off Arabian Gulf League last-place side Kalba with a 3-0 home victory on Friday at Al Maktoum Stadium.
Ibrahima Toure found the net twice to take the Senegalese striker up to second in the AGL scoring charts with 17.
A quiet first half produced little in the way of chances, and the sides remained deadlocked at the break. But Nasr wasted little time in getting ahead after the restart, with Toure leaping at the far post to send a looping header into the back of the net from Pablo Hernandez’s cross in the 48th minute.
The home side doubled their lead in the 76th minute as Hernandez went from provider to scorer, curling a first-time shot with in at the far post.
In the 84th minute, Toure made it a personal double, sending a precise, low shot past Saif Rashed. Into stoppage time, a curled cross from Hussain Juma was headed against the crossbar by Jassim Yaqoob for Ivan Jovanovic’s side and they had to settle for three goals.
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