Al Shaab dash Al Ahli's dreams

Gulf News - Al Shaab crushed Al Ahli (5-1) and denied the losers from topping the standings in the First Division football league. 

The defeat was a bad rehearsal for Al Ahli, who play at home in the Asian Champions league against Pakhtakor of Uzbekistan next Wednesday. 

It was Ahli's worst performance this season. On the other hand Al Shaab displayed excellent form even though they played without defenders Abdul Rahman Ibrahim (injured) and Jalil Abdul Rahman (suspended).

Moroccan midfielder Abdul Rahim Chocolate, who was in brilliant form, led Al Shaab by scoring two goals and creating the fifth. With this loss Al Ahli have dropped to third place with 11 points. They have a better goal difference than Al Shaab, who are in fifth place with same number of points. 

Al Shaab attacked through Mohammed Suroor, Sheikh Diop and Saif Mohammed with continuous support from midfielders Chocolate and Nabil Ibrahim. The Al Shaab attacks created gaps in the Ahli defence from which they threatened Ahli custodian Ali Saeed, who was busy in the first 20 minutes. 

Chocolate opened the scores for Al Shaab in the 26th minute when Nabil Ibrahim crossed from the right and Chocolate's header beat Ali Saeed to his right. 

A minute later Ali Karimi created a good chance for Faisal Khalil to level, but surprisingly he shot into the keeper's hands with an open goal in front.

Al Shaab added two goals in the last five minutes of the first session. Jasim Doukhy fired a grounder that deceived Ali Saeed in the 40th minute. 

Two minutes later Doukhy lost a good chance to score again when he faced the keeper, but couldn't go past him and the ball was cleared away. Sheikh Diop scored the third with a header following a cross by Suroor in the 43rd minute. 

Al Ahli stormed back in the second session to reduce the deficit. But it was a bad day as striker Ali Karimi was in a poor condition. The Shaab defenders Omran Jessmy, Ali Abdul Rahman, Saeed Yousu were solid in front of the Ahli attacks and goalkeeper Jamal Abdullah grabbed all the balls came his way. 

In the 75th minute Chocolate scored the fourth with a marvellous volley over the advancing Ahli goalkeeper. Ahli attacked with Hasan Ibrahim and scored a consolation goal in the 81st minute. 

Two minutes later the crossbar denied Ali Karimi as his header rebounded off the bar. Mohammed Suroor completed the rout two minutes from time when Chocolate went past Ahli defender Mohammed Qassim and crossed to Suroor, who slotted the ball into the empty net.

Al Ain were held to a draw (1-1) draw by Dubai club at the Dubai club stadium in Al Awir. 

Mohammed Omer saved the day for Al Ain by scoring a last-minute equaliser when his spectacular lob went straight to the far top corner of the net. Dubai club led with a strike by Chilean striker Cristian Montecinos following a cross by Mansour Jamil in the 65th minute.

Cristian himself lost a golden chance to score the winner in the final seconds of injury time when his powerful shot was saved by the Al Ain custodian Walid Salim. 

Al Ain are on top with 14 points, while Dubai club are in seventh place with 10 points.