Laba plunders four in Al Ain's rout of Fujairah

Dubai - The Boss win 7-1 to temporarily move to second on the AGL table

Togolese international Kodjo Fo-Doh Laba plundered four goals as Al Ain walloped Fujairah in the Arabian Gulf League at the Fujairah Stadium on Friday night.
The 27-year-old marksman struck on 42, 57, 68 and 87 minutes, while captain Mohanad Salem, Caio Canedo and Jamal Mahroof scored one each as Al Ain bossed the fixture 7-1.
Laba vaulted to the top of the goalscorers' list with eight, two ahead of last season's Best Foreign Player Igor Coronado of Sharjah.
The Boss, who notched their fourth win, temporarily moved to second on the table with 12 points, one behind defending champions and toppers Sharjah.
Sharjah were held to a 2-2 draw by promoted side Hatta, late on Thursday night. Hatta were heading towards a second win following Cristian Lopez's brace on 19 and 25 minutes. But Coronado and Ricardo Gomes struck late in stoppage time to escape defeat.
Elsewhere, Bani Yas and promoted Khor Fakkan played out a 1-1 stalemate. Robson de Paula struck into his own net on 51 minutes to give Bani Yas the lead. But Bismark Ferreira nullified that with the equalizer four minutes later.
It was Fujairah who took the lead on 39 minutes with Jhonnattann Benites firing it home following a pass from Fernando Gabriel.
But that was all they could muster as Al Ain opened the floodgates. Laba headed Bandar Al Ahbabi's freekick three minutes before the break.
Thereafter, it was mayhem as Al Ain fired at will. Salem gave them the lead on 53 minutes and Laba then added his second on 57 minutes.
Caio Canedo then made it 4-1 on 66 minutes before Laba scored his third on 68 minutes. Mahroof came up with the sixth on 80 minutes after which Laba completed the rout with the seventh, three minutes from time.
james@khaleejtimes.com