Kodjo nets historic hat-trick in Al Ain win, Shabab Al Ahli remain unbeaten

Al Ain secured a commanding 3-0 win over Khorfakkan at Hazza Bin Zayed Stadium, with Laba Kodjo scoring a historic hat-trick to take his tally to 125 goals and become the club’s all-time top scorer in league history.

The win moved Al Ain to 10 points and to the top of the Adnoc Pro League table after four matchweeks, while Khorfakkan remain on four points.

The first half saw Al Ain dominate possession but struggle to find the breakthrough against a well-organized Khorfakkan defence. The deadlock was finally broken in stoppage time when Laba struck to give his side the lead just before half-time.

Khorfakkan started brightly after the break, but Al Ain quickly reasserted control. In the 58th minute, Amadu Niang delivered a pinpoint cross that Laba converted with a powerful header to double the advantage.

The Congolese striker later completed his hat-trick from the penalty spot, sealing his tenth treble in the Adnoc Pro League and third against Khorfakkan.

Al Ain maintained control until the final whistle, securing three points that underlined their title ambitions.

Sardar Azmoun struck a dramatic 95th-minute winner to hand Shabab Al Ahli a hard-fought 1-0 victory over Al Nasr.

The Iranian forward rose highest in stoppage time to meet Cartabia’s precise cross, sealing all three points and maintaining Shabab Al Ahli’s unbeaten start to their title defence.

The win moves them up to second place on 10 points, while Al Nasr suffered their first defeat of the season, dropping to sixth on seven points.

The game itself was a cagey affair, with chances few and far between in the opening 45 minutes.

The hosts threatened just before half-time when Kevin Andres cut inside and found Bernard Mensah unmarked, but the Ghanaian’s strike flew over the bar.

Mensah remained Al Nasr’s main threat after the restart, testing goalkeeper Almeqbaali with a powerful solo effort in the 54th minute, only to be denied by a superb save.

Shabab Al Ahli responded through Yuri Cesar, whose low effort from the edge of the area flashed narrowly wide in the 73rd minute.

Just when the match seemed destined for a draw, Azmoun delivered the decisive blow.

His towering header silenced the home crowd and underlined Shabab Al Ahli’s credentials as serious contenders once again this season.

In another match Kalba pulled off a dramatic 2-1 comeback victory away to Dibba, turning around a first-half setback with a thrilling stoppage-time winner.

The hosts got off to the brighter start and broke the deadlock in the 17th minute. Defender Iago Santos showcased his aerial prowess, rising above his marker to power home a header that left the Kalba goalkeeper rooted. Dibba almost doubled their advantage just minutes later when Iraqi forward Mohanad Ali found himself through on goal in the 25th minute, but he squandered the golden opportunity, dragging his effort wide of the post to the relief of the visitors.

Kalba, struggling to create much in the first half, regrouped at the interval and emerged with renewed energy after the restart. Their persistence paid off in the 53rd minute when Venezuelan midfielder Renny Rivas struck the equaliser. His well-placed finish not only brought Kalba level but also earned him a place in league history as just the third Venezuelan player to score in the ADNOC Pro League, following in the footsteps of Jesús Meza and Gelmin Rivas.

The game seemed destined to end in a stalemate as both sides traded half-chances without managing to break through. Dibba, visibly tiring, tried to hold firm at the back, while Kalba pushed forward in search of a late winner.

Then came the decisive moment deep into stoppage time. In the 92nd minute, substitute Ahmed Shehda Abunamous picked up the ball in space outside the penalty area. Without hesitation, he unleashed a thunderous strike that flew past the goalkeeper and into the net, sparking wild celebrations among the Kalba players and staff.

The late goal sealed all three points for Kalba, who demonstrated resilience and fighting spirit to overturn a tricky away fixture. For Dibba, however, it was a cruel blow after a promising first half, leaving them ruing missed chances — especially Mohanad Ali’s squandered effort that could have changed the course of the match.