AGL Picks of the Week: Giovanni Sio makes instant impression, sacking season is close

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  • (Pictures all Pro League Committee).

    Round five of the 2018/19 Arabian Gulf League delivered several stellar displays, at both ends of the table.

    Here are Sport360’°s top picks:

    PLAYER OF THE WEEK – MOURAD BATNA (AL WAHDA)

    Player

    The Moroccan forward is a true livewire.

    Fresh from last week’s penalty miss and brace during the shock 4-2 loss at promoted Bani Yas, he had a hand in all three goals of the 3-1 win against lowly Emirates Club.

    He first assisted the excellent Leonardo, prior to a deflection and close-range finish of his own to get the Clarets back to winning ways.

    GOAL OF THE WEEK – GIOVANNI SIO (ITTIHAD KALBA)

    Dovun-6X4AEZAuY

    (Twitter/@ittihadkalbafc).

    There are few better ways for a heralded last-minute signing to celebrate their debut than by producing a wonder goal.

    Less than half an hour into the loan addition from Montpellier’s bow, Sow looked up and saw Shabab Al Ahli Dubai Club goalkeeper Majed Nasser off his line. A lob of outrageous power from 30 yards then fired Kalba ahead, prior to an eventual 2-1 loss on home soil.

    COACH OF THE WEEK – VUK RASOVIC (AL DHAFRA)

    Coach

    (Twitter/@aldhafraclub_ae).

    The Western Knights are not a club used to panicking, contrary to the trigger-happy boardrooms of their rivals.

    But even they must have been unsettled by a pointless start to 2018/19 from the reigning Saudi Professional League Coach of the Year.

    Their worries were given temporary respite with an excellent 2-1 win against Al Wasl. They’ll need it with Wahda up next after the break.

    TALKING POINT – SACKING SEASON NEARS

    (Twitter/@alahlicclub).

    (Twitter/@alahlicclub).

    It’s been a rough opening for coaches of the Dubai giants.

    Shabab Al Ahli’s Jose Luis Sierra and Al Nasr’s Ivan Jovanovic came into round five with patience close to exhausted. Luckily for them, Kalba and Dibba Al Fujairah were downed.

    They should live to fight through the international break. After then, who knows?

    Rumours were quickly squashed on Friday that Al Wasl’s mixed start would see Bolivia’s Gustavo Quinteros meet an instant exit. Again, this talk proved unfounded.

    Stays of execution rarely last long in the AGL. This trio shouldn’t kid themselves about sitting comfortably.

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