The dust from a fiery Super Cup clash between Al Ain and Al Ahli has barely settled. Last Friday’s match was for the most part not worth its billing, with the pair doing little to reinforce the feeling. that this was the country’s most hostile match-up. Then Ahli scored late on and things got rather heated. Al Ain’s supporters hurled objects onto the pitch, Mohammed Abdulrahman saw red and Cosmin Olaroiu was sent to the stands. Standard, eh? How fortunate, then, that these two face off again only six days later. Here is the caveat: should league leaders Al Ain win, they go 19 points clear of sixth-placed Ahli with five rounds remaining. Victory effectively ends Ahli’s title defence. Extra motivation, if ever it was required.
Race for runner-up spot
With Al Ain four points clear at the top, a third UAE championship trophy in four seasons seems almost certain. They have lost twice in 20 league matches and should glean enough points from their remaining fixtures to seal the title. That leaves their two closest competitors to fight it out for second. At present, Al Jazira sit two points above Al Shabab. Of the two matches this week, the Abu Dhabi club have the easier tie, since they host bottom club Kalba. Shabab face Emirates at home – a potentially tricky test. Yes, the title race is not run, but Jazira and Shabab may soon be scrapping simply for second.
Al Nasr’s top-four tilt
Brett Holman departed Al Maktoum Stadium last week beaten and bowed. Al Nasr had surrendered a first-half lead against Al Jazira, with the visitors eventually triumphing 4-2. Beginning the match with pretensions of mounting a challenge for second place, Nasr concluded it with genuine concerns regarding their top-four ambitions. They lie fifth, five points behind fourth-placed Al Wahda, with games disappearing fast. A trip to Al Dhafra is not exactly what the doctor ordered. The Western Region club might be ninth, but they love facing bigger clubs. There should not be as much trouble for Wahda, though, as they travel to an inconsistent Fujairah. In short, Nasr cannot let the gap to Wahda widen.
jmcauley@thenational.ae
Follow our sports coverage on Twitter @NatSportUAE
