Two goals from Faisal Khalil proved to be in vain as Al Ahli went down 4-3 to Al Shabab at the Maktoum bin Rashid stadium last night.
Shabab had raced into a 3-0 lead after only 30 minutes thanks to a goal from Carlos Villanueva and a double from Eisa Obaid. But Khalil struck on the stroke of half time to give the visitors some hope.
The Ahli striker reduced the lead further nine minutes into the second half and for a brief period it looked as if a great comeback was on as Ahli pushed forward.
But Rashid Hassan found the net with six minutes to go to double Shabab's advantage.
Pinga scored a late third for Ahli in stoppage time, his fourth in the competition, but the strike was not enough to deny Shabab.
The result took Shabab level on 12 points with Al Wasl on top of Group B in the Etisalat Cup while Ahli are bottom on four as they were leapfrogged by Sharjah, who surprised Al Jazira, the Pro League leaders, by coming from behind to claim a 2-1 win at the Mohammed bin Zayed stadium.
Ibrahim Diaky scored his fourth goal of the competition to give Jazira the lead approaching the hour mark, but that did not last long as Mohammed Suroor volleyed home a cross from Marcelinho for a 67th minute equaliser
Marcelinho then turned scorer himself as the Brazilian found the net seven minutes from time to give Sharjah their first win in the competition and leave Jazira third in the Group B standings.