Al Ahli's grip loosens after Al Wasl stalemate

Dubai - Al Jazira are on 56 points with Al Ahli on 48. Al Wasl are fourth with 44 points.

Al Ahli's grip on the Arabian Gulf League title slowly seemed to be slipping away after they were held to a stalemate by Al Wasl on Thursday night.
The Red Knights, the newly crowned Arabian Gulf Cup champions, almost ceded their hold on the League's shield after a goalless draw at the Rashid Stadium.
The result opened up an eight-point gap between them and leaders Al Jazira, with four rounds remaining. A second League title is Al Jazira's for the taking and only they can lose it from here on.
Al Jazira are on 56 points with Al Ahli on 48. Al Wasl are fourth with 44 points.
With the League reaching its business end and with AFC Champions League spots there for the taking next season, Al Wasl arrived at Al Ahli's fortress, meaning business.
The Cheetahs showed their intent and played their hand right from the get go, with a barrage of sorties.
And, as a result, Al Ahli had a fight on their hands. Caio Canedo and Ronaldo Mendes led the line upfront and gave some anxious moments to the Al Ahli backline.
First up, Mendes conjured a cheeky grounder as the wall went up and the trick almost seemed to have worked. But an alert Al Ahli goalkeeper Majed Naser showed good presence of mind to stay put and held on to it.
Later, on 18 minutes, Hazza Salem's solo run through the middle caught the Al Ahli backline by surprise. But it was ambitious, if anything, as his shot lost its sting as it ricocheted off Waleed Hussain, after which Naser made the collection.
Canedo then gave it a try with a flying run from the left, with four men in pursuit. But nothing came of it in the end.
Such was Al Wasl's dominance that they had all of Al Ahli's players pinned at the back
The Red Knights finally found their feet with their first foray coming through an Ismail Al Hammadi corner, but the closest they came was when Ahmed Khalil's inch perfect freekick was punched over the cross bar by Al Wasl shot stopper Humaid Abdulla.
The game opened up after the break as both ventured to draw first blood. Canedo saw his attempt pushed away by Naser and, at the other end, his opposite number Humaid Abdulla denied Makhete Diop after the Senegalese was put through by Ismail Al Hammadi.
Al Ahli substitute Saeed Ahmed, who had come on for Waleed Hussain, saw his left-footer just whizz past the far post, on the hour.
Two minutes later, Khali's nudge went wide after Habib Al Fardan had sent in a neat chip.
james@khaleejtimes.com