Al Ain blank Hatta 2-0

dubai — Record champions Al Ain worked off an easy victory over Hatta in the 20th round of the Arabian Gulf League at the Hazza bin Zayed Stadium in Al Ain on Saturday night.

Goals from Danilo Asprilla and veteran playmaker Ibrahim Diaky gave ‘The Boss’ a 2-0 win.

Asprilla put Al Ain ahead on 27 minutes after which former Al Jazira man Diaky added to the tally, seven minutes from time.

Al Ain’s 13th win and their seventh at home, temporarily took them to second on the League table with 43 points, the same as Al Wasl. But they could be overtaken by defending champions Al Al Ahli who are set to play later against the League’s leaders Al Jazira.

Elsewhere, Al Wahda edged past Ittihad Kalba in an entertaining encounter, at the Kalba Union Sports & Cultural Club Stadium.

Ahmed Alakberi had given Al Wahda the lead after which Khalil Ibrahim gave them added cushion, with the second on 25 minutes. Modibo Maiga reduced the deficit for Ittihad Kalba on 38 minutes but ‘The Clarets’ were to pull away again through Balazs Dzsudzsak, with the Hungarian captain scoring on 41 minutes.

Ittihad Kalba came back better after the break and equalised through former Al Ahli ace Ciel and Maiga on 65 and 70 minutes respectively.

And it took talisman Ismail Matar to give Al Wahda the match-winner, with five minutes left on the clock.

Al Wahda are fifth on the table with 31 points after eight wins from 20 matches.

In another match at the Fujairah Stadium, Al Shabab escaped with a 1-1 draw against Dibba.

Marwan Mohammad had scored an own goal on 32 minutes but Tomas De Vincenti struck in stoppage time for ‘The Hawks to come away with a point.