Round 17 of the 2018/19 Arabian Gulf League delivered several stellar displays, at both ends of the table.
Controversy – and elation – surrounded a 98th-minute winner from leaders Sharjah at Fujairah, while UAE midfielder Khamis Esmail wound back the years with a thunderbolt for Al Wasl against Emirates Club.
Here are Sport360’°s top picks and a talking point:
PLAYER OF THE WEEK – RYAN MENDES (SHARJAH)
If Sharjah end their 23-year wait for top-flight glory in May, this intervention from Mendes will go down as a key moment.
At 0-0 in the 98th-minute, the forward showed all his experience to nudge his Fujairah marker and let the referee make a call. He was, instead, waved on to finish and elation followed.
(Twitter/@SharjahFC).
GOAL OF THE WEEK – KHAMIS ESMAIL (AL WASL)
This was the Esmail we have come to expect.
The – now ageing – UAE anchorman looked up 35 yards from goal and then unleashed a howitzer that flew straight into the corner of Ali Saeed Saqr’s net for Emirates.
This goal-of-the-season contender earned an invaluable 2-1 win and was just his second in yellow.
(Pro League Committee).
COACH OF THE WEEK – HENK TEN CATE (AL WAHDA)
It’s been a mixed return to Abu Dhabi for the Dutch veteran.
But his side, finally, unloaded on on-song capital rivals Bani Yas this weekend. Pleasingly for the Al Jazira legend, this 4-1 triumph included stellar turns from youngster Khalil Ibrahim (two assists) and under-pressure foreign addition Leonardo (two goals).
(Twitter/@AlWahdaFCC).
TALKING POINT – TESTING NASR’S PATIENCE
When Al Nasr made the difficult decision to dispense with club icon Ivan Jovanovic for a second time, replacement Benat San Jose spoke of a faith in a long-term vision.
A return of six winless matches that has seen them dumped out of two cups and hover near the drop zone has tested this belief. A change to a Spanish style is evident. Will the new man be given time to see the job through?
