Al Ahli ended their terrible Arabian Gulf League title defence in typical fashion as they sunk to a 1-0 loss at Bani Yas courtesy of Fawaz Awana’s late header.
The 26-year-old’s looped effort on 85 minutes from Joan Verdu’s free-kick saw the Red Knights round out the season in seventh, a vast fall from 2013/14’s 16-point championship-winning margin. Few chances were created in Abu Dhabi, visiting winger Ismail Al Hammadi and Sky Blues wide man Bandar Al Ahbabi going closest.
Meanwhile, Al Wahda enjoyed a rampant finish as Sebastian Tagliabue claimed a hat-trick in a 5-1 thrashing of Al Nasr.
The match at Al Nahyan Stadium had pitted the fourth-placed hosts against opponents just one spot behind them. They ended in the same places, but with vastly contrasting emotions after a second-half humiliation.
Argentine front man Tagliabue began the thumping from the penalty spot on 10 minutes after Al Nasr right-back Ahmed Ibrahim’s foul. Intense pain for the Blue Wave followed after the interval.
Tagliabue headed into an open goal and profited from Renan Garcia’s mistake, young star Mohamed Alakbari and Amer Omar getting the others. Ibrahima Toure’s headed consolation was his 18th goal of 2014/15, securing him second place in the scoring chart.
