Sharjah down Al Ain to widen gap at top; Ajman win
AL AIN: Sharjah extended their lead at the top of the table after seeing off Al Ain 2-1 at the Hazza Bin Zayed Stadium in a match week 8 game of the Arabian Gulf League (AGL).
Sharjah scored first in the 24th minute. Mendes made a brilliant run down the left flank before putting the ball into the direction of Welliton Soares, who slotted home easily.
Al Ain looked better in the second half and came close to leveling the scoreline on a number of occasions.
Just after the one-hour mark, Sharjah were awarded a penalty after Eissa fouled Igor Coronado inside the box. The Brazilian converted from the spot to double the King’s lead.
Al Ain fought back and reduced the deficit through Berg in the 67th minute. Following the win, Sharjah opened up a four-point gap at the top of the table and kept their undefeated record intact.
They will play against Ittihad Kalba at Khaled Bin Mohamed Stadium in matchweek 9. Meanwhile, Al Ain remained second on 16 points and could be overtaken by Al Jazira who are scheduled to face Dibba on Thursday.
AJMAN PIP KALBA
Ajman came away from the east coast with the three points, after defeating Ittihad Kalba 3-2 in the opening game of matchweek 8 of the Arabian Gulf League at Kalba Union Stadium.
Vander Vieira opened the scoring for the Oranges in the 17th minute. The visitors doubled their lead ten minutes later through Hassan Abdulrahman. The Tigers’ Balazs Dzsudzsak applied a calm right-footed finish to half the deficit in the 34th minute.
Ittihad Kalba defender Ali made up for his mistake 12 minutes after the restart, supplying a perfect cross for Myke Ramos who steered his looping header into the far corner of Al Hosani’s goal to restore parity with his third goal of the season.
Ajman goalkeeper Al Hosani added his name to the assists list, sending a long pass for Senegalese striker Baba Mame Thiam who outmuscled his marker, chested the ball and finished with his left to secure the winner for Aymen El Ramadi’s men 15 minutes from time.
EMIRATES, AL NASR DRAW
Meanwhile, Emirates came from behind to secure a 3-3 draw with Al Nasr at Emirates Club Stadium in their matchweek 8 game.
Álvaro Negredo opened the scoring for Al Nasr just after the half-hour mark, but Cheick Diabaté leveled only three minutes later.
Negredo put Al Nasr 2-1 up through a penalty kick goal before substitute Samuel Rosa netted a third goal for Al Nasr.
As Al Nasr seemed close to securing a valuable win, Emirates hit back to reduce the deficit six minutes from time through Diabaté who completed his brace before Eisa Ali equalized for Emirates in injury time.