The fourth week of the 2014-15 AGL season saw the first managerial casualty of the campaign and yet more stunning goals.
Here, our reporter Matt Monaghan assess the best of the action from the week.
Player of the week
Villanueva had bubbled in the background previously this season, setting the platform for Henrique Luvannor to shine. That changed on Tuesday in the last-gasp 2-0 victory against Ittihad Kalba.
The Chile international’s free-kick forced a spill in which Shabab claimed a 92nd-minute breakthrough, then added a killer second soon after.
With three wins out of three, Shabab and Villanueva look like they mean business.
Goal of the week
Wanderley (Sharjah)
Al Wahda’s defending wasn’t the cleverest, but the Clarets backline were bent all out of shape by Wanderley’s turn of pace and sharp mind.
The Brazilian charged onto a knockdown, a shimmy taking him past two Wahda players before sending another to the floor with a beautiful flick, he then raced on to open the scoring for Sharjah in a valuable 1-1 draw.
Coach of the week
Paulo Comelli (Emirates Club)
Neither side could have been blamed for not expecting Emirates Club to surge to a 3-2 victory which adds to Bani Yas’ woes.
It seemed common sense in pre-season to write off Emirates, boardroom strife and uninspiring transfers seemingly further damaging a suspect squad. The Brazilian’s men, however, are now sixth in the table.
Bani Yas were blown apart on Tuesday, the hosts racing into a 3-0 lead then showing the bottle to peg back a late revival.
Who’s next?
It has only taken four games for the first Arabian Gulf League chairman to make the decision to dispense with a coach. Al Dhafra’s Anel Karabeg (below) paid the price for a solid if not spectacular start, Romanian Marin Ion his replacement.
If Karabeg was vulnerable, plenty of other bosses should be sitting nervously.
Bani Yas seem to be regressing by the week under Luis Garcia, Jorginho cannot kick Al Wasl into gear and Vinicius Soares faces a thankless task at Ittihad Kalba.
No country for old men
Uncharacteristic weakness has begun to permeate Rashid Stadium, the home of champions Al Ahli. Monday’s 0-0 draw with Ajman followed a shock 4-2 defeat to Al Shabab last time they were on home duty.
The Red Knights have built a squad of real depth, but their key foreign players are 30 or over.
A crammed fixture list means games will come thick and fast this term, with only three days between the Ajman stalemate and 5-1 thumping of Al Wasl.
Ahli have the talent to triumph again, but do they have the energy?
