Al Ahli kept their Pro League title ambitions on track with a hard-fought 2-1 win over Ajman at the Ajman Stadium on Tuesday night.
Goals from Grafite and Achille Emana in the first half proved enough to send the Red Knights back to Dubai with all three points and up to second in the table, albeit six points behind leaders Al Ain.
Ajman halved the deficit during the early stages of the second period through Founeke Sy, but the hosts’ search for an equalizer proved fruitless.
The match started with good pace and tempo, and following some end-to-end play during the opening quarter of an hour, it was Ahli who started to carve out the better chances.
The visitors had the ball in the back of the net after 18 minutes, but Emana’s effort was ruled out after the Cameroonian strayed inches offside.
Ahli’s early pressure paid off soon enough and it was none other than captain and top-scorer Grafite who opened the scoring with a stunning effort on 25 minutes.
Inside the area, the Brazilian produces a Davor Suker-esque dragback to escape his marker before bringing it onto his right foot and lashing into the roof of the net.
That’s 18 goals now for the season for the former Wolfsburg man, who admitted to Sport360° last week he is keen to extend his stay in Dubai beyond the end of the season when his contract expires.
Ahli continued to dominate the first half, playing possession football and luring Ajman into a game of cat-and-mouse. Their second came a minute before the interval courtesy of Emana, who drilled the ball low and hard into the bottom corner.
Despite their total dominance in the first period Ahli were pegged back just three minutes after their interval. Sy showing pace and power to outstrip his marker before firing a low shot into the far corner. Game on.
Ajman would continue to press for that elsuive equaliser but their cause was not helped when Ibrahim was given his march orders 15 minutes from the end.
The home side though minutes later , but Sy somehow managed to head over with the goal at his mercy while Kabi blasted wide in the finals stages despite being well placed.
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