Shabab Al Ahli bounce back with victory over Ajman

Yousef Jaber scored and assisted as Shabab Al Ahli defeated Ajman 3-1 at Rashid Stadium in matchweek 6 of the Arabian Gulf League.

Elsewhere, Kalba defeated Bani Yas to extend their winning streak to two matches under the new coach after a miserable start to the season.

Earlier, it only took Shabab Al Ahli four minutes to threaten Ajman’s goalkeeper. Ahmed Khalil received the ball up the right flank after a series of quick passes. The number 11 sent a low cross inside the box towards Ismael Al Hammadi whose strike was cleverly blocked by Ali Al Hosani.

The home side continued to press forward and in the 21st minute they broke the deadlock through Luvannor Henrique. Abdullah Al Naqbi found Khalil with a defence splitting cross, the latter squared the ball to the Brazilian, who headed calmly into the back of Al Hosani’s net.

Four minutes ahead of the break, Shabab Al Ahli doubled their lead through Al Hammadi, who converted Jaber’s low cross from the left side past Al Hosani with a composed sliding effort.

The Oranges reduced the deficit in the 52nd minute, when Hassan Abdulrahman released Bubacarr Trawally behind Shabab Al Ahli’s backline. The forward’s left footed powerful strike nestled into the back of Majed Nasser’s net.

Around the 74-minute mark, Jaber turned from producer to scorer as Shabab Al Ahli restored their two-goal lead. The fullback converted Davide Mariani’s long range crossed freekick with a towering header to make it 3-1.

Meanwhile, two first-half penalties from Balazs Dzsudzsak sealed a 2-1 victory for Ittihad Kalba at the expense of Bani Yas at Ittihad Kalba Stadium in matchweek 6 of the Arabian Gulf League.

After an extended spell of pressure for the hosts, Yaseen Al Bakhit was brought down inside the box and the referee instantly pointed to the spot. The Hungarian winger stepped up and converted from 11 yards out to put Ittihad Kalba in the lead after 19 minutes.

The Tigers were handed a golden opportunity to double their lead at the half-hour mark as Pedro Conde was penalized for a handball inside his own area. Dzsudzsak was again spot on and made it 2-0.

Bani Yas’ woes were compounded as club captain Fawaz Awana was dismissed in the final minute of the first half after a heavy challenge on Ittihad Kalba’s Majed Rashed.

Ittihad Kalba were caught napping at the hour mark and Sultan Al Shamsi capitalized on a Suhail Al Noobi cross to head home and half the deficit. The result means Ittihad Kalba catch up with Bani Yas on six points.

Meanwhile, A second win in a row for Al Nasr under new coach Krunoslav Jurčić, got their season back on track after a shaky start. And the winner from Alvaro Negredo was worthy of winning any game.

But while they still remain mid-table, with games against the bottom two sides in the next two weeks, there is light at the end of the tunnel for the Blues.

Another coach feeling very pleased with himself will be Ivan Leko in Al Ain, who has ‘The Boss’ back up and bossing the Arabian Gulf League.

Coming into the season a lot was spoken about Sharjah, Al Jazira and Shabab Al Ahli, while Al Ain flew largely under the radar.

Just over a month into the new season and they are firmly on everyone’s radar now. After a less-than-convincing start against Ittihad Kalba in the opening match, their only loss has come against league-leading Sharjah thanks to two late goals from the reigning champions, whom they trail by just a solitary point.

While Igor Coronado is deservedly getting a lot of headlines at the moment, there is no player in better goal scoring form than Kodjo Laba. The Togolese international, who netted four times in the 7-1 hammering of Fuijairah on the weekend, has eight goals in five games to start the season and his, err, “unique” goal celebration is taking over.

Their wins this season have come against lower ranked teams – Ittihad Kalba, Al Wasl, Al Nasr, Hatta and Fujairah – while their only loss was against one of the league’s title contenders.