Youngster Mohamed Al Khoory showed there is unbeknown talent in the Al Ahli ranks, lighting up a 4-1 win at Al Shaab which heaped more misery on the forlorn hosts.
The 22-year-old summer signing from Al Dhafra outshone even striker Lima – who netted his 19th goal in 24 appearances – and record-buy Moussa Sow – who also struck – in his 57 minutes on the pitch, as the title-chasing Red Knights returned to winning ways in the Arabian Gulf League.
The miniscule winger cut inside on 50 minutes to calmly dispatch the second from a perfect lofted ball from UAE midfielder Habib Fardan, before hitting the afterburners to tee up Sow for a tap-in seconds later.
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As expected, the bottom-placed hosts offered negligible resistance. Boss Walter Zenga saw his team go behind in under three minutes, winger Abdulla Eissa dismissed for a snide kick at Brazil playmaker Everton Ribeiro before the interval and concede two more goals in quick-fire succession during a tepid second half.
The Italian’s caused was not helped by his depleted foreign quarter, only Michel N'Dri fit enough for a spot on the bench. The promoted club reach the halfway stage in the top flight cast adrift and in need of a miracle, with no wins recorded and a gaping 10-point gap to safety.
Amateur defending from Commandos skipper Mansour Albaloushi as he went underneath a Ribeiro cross allowed Lima to swivel and fire home unopposed to give Ahli the perfect start after last Sunday’s shock 1-0 reversal at Bani Yas.
A late flurry sees Jassim score from a tight angle to see it finish @AlShaabClub 1-4 #AlAhliUAE. Visitors back to winning ways @Sport360
— Matt Monaghan (@mattmonaghan360) December 26, 2015
Little of note followed before a late swipe from Eissa on the aforementioned Brazil playmaker saw him dismissed on 39 minutes.
A dreary second period saw Al Khoory burst into life upon the restart. He steadied himself prior to slotting home from Fardan’s assist and then allowed €17 million (Dh81m) man Sow to prod home just his third goal in 15 underwhelming appearances since his switch from Fenerbahce.
2015 AFC Player of the Year Ahmed Khalil then emerged from the bench to rocket in from an acute angle for his first goal in 10 games, while winger Maher Jassim’s injury-time consolation from an equally-tight spot could not stop Ahli moving up to second.
