Leaders Al Jazira could wrap up AGL title on Saturday night
dubai — It could all be over this weekend or Al Jazira will have to wait and Al Ahli will live to fight another day.
Al Jazira make the road trip from Abu Dhabi as championselect and could well return from the pristine hills of Hatta, in the middle of Saturday night, as freshly-minted Arabian Gulf League champions.
Henk ten Cate’s men go in knowing that they need only a point from their remaining three fixtures to win the UAE top flight for only the second time. Al Jazira hold an eight-point cushion against holders Al Ahli and are primed to wrap it up this weekend.
Al Jazira’s maiden title came under Abel Braga in the 2010-11 season and now under Dutchman Henk ten Cate, the Abu Dhabi club haven’t put a foot wrong. Except for two defeats, against Al Nasr and Al Ahli and two draws to Al Wahda and Emirates, Al Jazira have raised the benchmark and have been the team to beat this season.
And they could get the job done against Hatta with two rounds to spare. But the title race could quite possibly spill over to another week if results transpire against them. If Al Jazira go down to Hatta and if Al Ahli, who kickoff at the same time, best Al Sharjah, the Red Knights could live to fight another day.
The Red Knights had kept in touch with Al Jazira for most part of the title race, and in hindsight, their stalemate against Al Wasl at home earlier this month, more or less put an end to their hopes.
And the only way Al Ahli could defend the title is by winning all their three remaining fixtures and hope Al Jazira lose all three of theirs. The chance, no matter however bleak, is one Cosmin Olaroiu’s men have to take, to push it to the wire.
And while Al Ahli will be aiming for the top, they would do well to look over their shoulders as a reenergized Al Wasl lurk just three points behind them, and Al Ain a further five points adrift.
With AFC Champions League spots up for grabs next season, it should be an intriguing tussle between these teams as we enter the business end of the League.
As things hot up at the top, it is the same case down below with four clubs — Bani Yas, Emirates, Dibba and Ittihad Kalba fighting to escape the drop. Bani Yas, who are bottom of the pile, are away to Al Nasr at the Al Maktoum Stadium, the Blue Wave’s last home game of the season.
Dibba host Al Wasl in Fujairah, to kick-start the round on Friday night, while Emirates and Ittihad Kalba go into a straight fight, on the same night.
Al Shabab welcome Al Dhafra at the Maktoum bin Rashid Al Maktoum Stadium at Al Mamzar.
Al Ain and Al Wahda, fresh from victories in the AFC Champions League, lock horns at the Hazza bin Zayed Stadium, Al Ain’s fortress, on Saturday night.
james@khaleejtimes.com