Kalba seal promotion after emphatic win over Ras Al Khaimah

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  • Hat-trick hero: Mihai Costea (l).

    Mourad Okbi’s side needed to beat the bottom-placed side during the final day’s play in the First Division League to go straight back up. They achieved this task with ease, a hat-trick from Romanian forward Mihai Costea ensuring they edged out rivals Ajman and Dubai Club.

    Kalba – who are joined by already-confirmed champions Hatta – have been relegated in their three previous visits to the top flight.

    Meanwhile, Sharjah boss Abdulaziz Al Anbari has warned his squad they are not safe yet. The King travel to mid-table Bani Yas tonight boasting a healthy seven-point cushion to second-bottom Fujairah with three games left, because of their superior head-to-head record.

    A point for them in Abu Dhabi or if Fujairah fail to win at Al Jazira tomorrow will secure their top-flight status for a fourth-successive season, but Al Anbari wanted his side to leave nothing to chance.

    He said: “This will be a difficult game, as Bani Yas are always good at home. But we are optimistic about a positive outcome which will secure our position, which is still critical and we need three points.”

    Tonight’s other fixture has little riding on it. Hosts Dibba Al Fujairah are a maximum one point away from escaping an instant relegation back to the second division, while Al Dhafra maintained their AGL status during last weekend’s impressive 2-1 win against high-flying Al Wahda.

    “The two teams are entering this game in comfort after managing to avoid relegation,” said Western Knights coach Mohammed Kwid. “But we must remain focused on progressing until the end of the season. The team is ready for the match and will enter with our usual style in hope of achieving a result.”

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