Al Ahli have one hand on Arabian Gulf League

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Al Ahli have one hand on Arabian Gulf League
Al Ain defender Ismail Ahmed (left) tries to check Al Ahli's Ismail Al Hammadi in the Arabian Gulf League at the Rashid Stadium in Dubai on Thursday night.

Dubai - The Red Knights dismantle defending champions Al Ain to blow open six-point gap

By James Jose

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Published: Sat 16 Apr 2016, 1:55 AM

A seventh Arabian Gulf League shield is Al Ahli's to keep unless something really drastic happens from here on.
The Red Knights brought their 'A' game on the night to dismantle defending champions Al Ain at a Rashid Stadium, packed to the rafters.
The killer blow was dealt by none other than AFC Player of the Year Ahmed Khalil, whose glancing header on 38 minutes, worth its weight in gold.
The solitary goal result blew open a six-point gap over Al Ain with three matches left in the League. Cosmin Olaroiu's men have 59 points, while Al Ain were left stuck on 53 points.
The Red Knights are on the road to Al Nasr next week before returning home for their final two fixtures against Bani Yas and Al Shaab.
Al Ain had the first attempt, two minutes into the game through Douglas but his shot from the left took a deflection off Walid Abbas and went for a corner, after he was put in by Omar Abdurahman.
At the other end, Al Ahli's had a chance two minute later but Ahmed Khalil's first time shot went wide of the post after Ciel sent in a fine cross.
It was end to end action and Al Ain conjured a threatening move on 20 minutes with Omar Abdulrahman at the centre of it. But the final pass was a bit too wide for Omar to get to and goalkeeper Majed Naser had it covered.
The Red Knights earned back-to-back corners on 25 minutes but nothing much came of it. A little later, Ciel saw his chip shot agonisingly whizz just over the cross bar. At the other, end, Danilo Asprila missed one.
This game was about those thin fine margins and Al Ahli played that better to break the stalemate with seven minutes left in the half.
Ahmed Khalil came up with a glancing header into the far corner of then net from an Everton Ribeiro freekick near the edge of the byline, after Khalil was brought down by Mohammed Fayez.
Al Ain coach Zlatko Dalic rung in the change by bringing on Mohammed Abdulrahman for Fellipe Bastos, at the start of the second half.
And Al Ain showed a lot more intent at the beginning of the half with new man in Mohammed Abdulrahman coming really close to getting the equaliser. Asprila sent a cross from the right and Mohammed Abdulrahman came up with a dangerous header but it hit the woodwork on 55 minutes.
Al Ahli were forced to make a substitution with the livewire Ismail Al Hammadi coming in for an injured Ahmed Khalil, who was stretchered off, just as the clock hit the hour.
With Al Ain unable to breach a tight Al Ahli defence as much as they would have liked to, Dalic brought in the experienced veteran Ibrahim Diaky, in place of Ahmed Barman.
But the Red Knights held firm in their fortress, despite threatening attempts from Mohammed Abdulrahman, Douglas and Ibrahim Diaky.
Reinforcements came in for both sides with Habib Al Fardan replacing Ciel and Al Ain, as a last throw of the dice, bringing on Saeed Al Kathiri for Mohanad Salem. Al Ain threw everything at it but that goal was proving to be elusive, and their grasp on the title slowly slipping away.  
Al Ahli could have nailed it with two minutes left but Moussa Sow's powerful grounder from 25 metres out just missed the left post. But by then, they had done just enough for a seventh title.
What remains are the finishing touches.
james@khaleejtimes.com
 


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