The fight for qualification from Group A of the Arabian Gulf Cup behind Al Nasr is a three-way scrap between Al Shabab, Al Wasl and Al Ain going into this weekend’s final round of games.
With Nasr being the first to qualify, the remaining three teams will go into action tonight with one of them able to qualify for the semi-finals.
Shabab are second on nine points and their progress under the Brazilian coach Caio Junior has gone without much fanfare.
They are third in the Arabian Gulf League, only a point behind Al Jazira and Al Ain at the half-way stage. Caio Junior’s men will look to book their passage to the cup semi-finals when they face bottom-of-the-group Ajman away, knowing a victory will achieve their progress.
Shabab are a point ahead of Wasl, who play Al Ain. Wasl can progress if they triumph and Shabab fail to win.
Caio Junior said: “We will not depend on other results. Our objective is to go out there and win so that there are no complications how we qualify.
“We are also aware it won’t be an easy task. The pressure will be on us because our opponent will have nothing to lose.”
Al Ain could also progress, despite being three points adrift of Shabab, if they beat Wasl and Shabab lose. The fact that Al Ain beat Shabab 3-2 in their meeting in the competition would give them the edge in the head-to-head standings.
Kalba, who are on six points and meet Nasr, could still also mathematically draw level with Shabab, but they cannot qualify, having lost their match with Shabab 2-0 in November.
Zlatko Dalic, the Al Ain coach, said: “Regardless whether we qualify or not, our goal is to go out there and win this game.”
Gabriel Calderon, the Wasl coach, said their chances took a nosedive after the scoreless result against Nasr last week, which took their destiny in the competition out of their hands.
“Nevertheless, we’ll go all out to win this game and then hope for the best,” the Argentine said.
In Group B on Saturday, Sharjah have already qualified on 11 points but can win the group with victory at Emirates.
Sharjah's spot is guaranteed as the only two sides who can overtake them, Baniyas and Al Dhafra, who are both one point back, play each other. Even if they drew and went to 11 points and Sharjah lost, their victories over both of those sides in the group mean they would prevail.
A winner from the Baniyas game against Dhafra will go through with them, but a draw in that game will result in Baniyas progressing, thanks to a better goal difference.
apassela@thenational.ae
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