AL SHAAB 1 (O. Kilichev 19’)
Al Ahli retained their stranglehold on the Arabian Gulf League as they swept aside struggling Al Shaab 3-1 courtesy of goals from Ciel and Luis Jimenez.
The latter netted twice in a hightempo game that sees the Red Knights go six points clear at the top of the league. Oybek Kilichev though did bring the scores level for Al Shaab at 1-1 in the first half.
Ismail Al Hammadi came within inches of breaking the deadlock after 10 minutes after Grafite held up the ball in the penalty before backheeling it back to the UAE international winger, who lashed a wellstruck effort just past the post from 15 yards out.
Just a minute later, a telescopic long ball pass from right back evaded the entire Al Shaab midfield and defence before resting on the foot of Ciel who clipped the ball past the goalkeeper from 10 yards out.
With just 19 minutes on the clock, the home side were back in the game courtesy of Kilichev. Some slack Al Ahli defending allowed the ball to bobble around in the penalty.
An aborted clearance fell to the feet of Kilichev on the edge of the area and the Uzbek made no mistake with a low drive into the right hand corner, giving Saif Yousif no chance whatsoever.
The Sharjah side were unlucky not to take the lead minutes later when Ahmed Eissa Kamel’s looping header from a Michael Laurent Ndri cross was well tipped over by Yousif.
While Al Shaab would continue to stay in the game until the 90th minute, they would only once again truly trouble the Al Ahli goal, Ndri forcing a double save from the goalkeeper in injury time.
With just six minutes to go until the break, Al Ahli looked to have taken the lead again when Grafite hooked the ball into the net.
The goal would be chalked off though when Grafite was adjudged to have brought down goalkeeper Obaid Al Taweela in the melee. The second half would prove more fruitful for the visitors.
Just 90 seconds after the restart, the Red Knights took the lead for good. Abdulaziz Husain cut the ball into Jimenez, who stood 15 yards from goal on the right hand side of the penalty area.
The Chilean took a touch inside before nutmegging the on-rushing defender with a leftfooted drive past Al Taweela.
Al Shaab hit back and went close when Jesus Manuel Meza’s weak shot from a tight angle hit the upright. The ricochet fell to Mohamed Malalla Hassan but he was unable to bring it under control for a second effort.
But 29 minutes from time, the hosts’ chances would be over. Jimenez grabbed a second and Al Ahli’s third, slotting home a Ciel pull-back from the edge of the area, striking the ball hard and low past Al Taweela.
