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Al Ahli ease past Al Wahda

Al Ahli shored up their second-place position in the Etisalat Pro-League courtesy of a 2-0 victory over Al Wahda at Al Shabab’s Maktoum bin Rashid Al Maktoum Stadium.

With the championship title already decided in Al Ain’s favour for this campaign, the only matters left to be determined for the remainder of the season is which clubs qualify for the 2013/2014 AFC Champions League or suffer dreaded relegation.

Al Ahli and Al Wahda players vie for the ball during their Etisalat Pro-League football match at Al Shabab Stadium in Dubai on Sunday. —KT photo by Mukesh Kamal

Quique Sanchez Flores’ Red Knights are at the forefront of the former group following their latest win on Saturday night that saw them pull three points clear of Bani Yas, who themselves drew 3-3 at Ajman. Two second-half strikes secured the three points for Ahli, with Adnan Al Beloshi and Ismaeel Al Hammadi netting in a six-minute spell after the half-time interval. Wahda boss Branko Ivankovic then brought on Papa Waigo and Salem Saleh with a quarter of an hour left to try and spark a late rally.

But, those two switches didn’t spark a revival from the visitors as Ahli maintained a six-point cushion over fourth-placed Al Nasr with only four league games – and 12 points – left to play for overall.

The next round (23rd) of the Etisalat Pro-League takes place this weekend, when Ahli travel to Nasr (Friday, Kick-off: 8:45pm) and Wahda host Ajman (Friday, Kick-off: 6:05pm). Bani Yas entertain mid-table Al Dhafra on Saturday night (Kick-off: 8:45pm).