Al Ain showed their title-winning credentials as they emphatically ended Al Shabab’s unbeaten start to the Arabian Gulf League-season with a 4-1 thrashing on Friday night.
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The Boss exploded into life at Maktoum bin Rashid Al Maktoum Stadium, going ahead in less than a minute as superstar playmaker Omar Abdulrahman lashed in a low shot from the edge of the box.
Brazilian midfielder Fellipe Bastos also struck a brace and recently-retired Nigeria striker Emmanuel Emenike scored from the penalty spot.
Jo’s scuffed finish for the hosts to make it 2-1 at that stage proved nothing but a consolation. The victory ensured the champions will finish the round at the top of the standings regardless of other results, AFC Champions League-finalists Al Ahli still playing catchup despite their 100-per-cent start.
Lembram do Fellipe Bastos, ex-Grêmio, Ponte, Vasco…? Fez dois pro @alainfcae hoje. Um deles nessa bela falta pic.twitter.com/4aql1X1sQD
— Non Sense Football (@NSenseFootball) October 23, 2015
Al Ain went in front after just 59 seconds as Abdulrahman pounced when goalkeeper Salem Abdulla punched onto his own bar. The visitors doubled up in the 21st minute as Bastos curled a fine free-kick over the wall.
The Hawks believed they had earned a lifeline seven minutes before the break, Brazil striker Jo beating the offside trap to register his third top-flight goal since a summer move from Atletico Mineiro.
But this was as good as it got for last term’s third-placed finishers, who came into the match on the back of three AGL draws.
They were unable to hold out until half-time, Fenerbahce loanee Emenike following up his mid-week decision to quit the Super Eagles with a fourth goal in six appearances after Mahmood Qassim handled his pass in the area.
The rout was complete when Bastos smashed home from the far right of the box in the 50th minute.
Meanwhile, forward Jires Kembo Ekoko came to the rescue as Al Nasr ground out a 2-1 victory at newly-promoted Dibba Al Fujairah.
The hotly-tipped Blue Wave faced an uphill task to end a damaging run of two-successive draws when veteran striker Boris Kabi tapped in Ali Mohamed’s headed centre on three minutes. They remained behind until striker Salem Saleh rewarded boss Ivan Jovanovic’s decision to call him from the substitutes’ bench, racing onto playmaker Luis Jimenez’s lofted pass just before the hour mark to stroke a low finish in.
Nasr finally broke through to earn the win which moved them into second when Kembo Ekoko showed smart footwork to flick in Jonathan Pitroipa’s incisive pass.
Defender Celio dos Santos’ comedic own goal sparked a late collapse from bottom-placed Al Shaab in the 2-0 derby defeat at Sharjah.
The Timor-Leste international looped a mishit clearance into the wrong net on 80 minutes, young midfielder Muhain Khalifa spectacularly doubling the King’s lead with a rasping 20-yard strike during stoppage time.
