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Arabian Gulf League: Round Two Preview

A week on from a goal-packed opening round of the Arabian Gulf League, all fourteen teams are back in action again for Round Two on Friday 20th and Saturday 21st September.

Getting the round underway in the two 5:30pm kick-offs on Friday, Emirates will host Dubai at Al Shaab’s Khaled bin Mohamed Stadium, whilst Al Ain will play at home against Ajman. Emirates – who have temporarily vacated their stadium as it is a host venue for the FIFA U17 World Cup – got off to a great start with a 3-1 away win at Al Dhafra on the opening day, and Eid Baroot’s side will hope to make it two out of two against a new-look Dubai, who held out until the final minute before conceding to Al Ahli in Round One. Al Ain, meanwhile, have endured a difficult start to the season and go into their home match at the Tahnon bin Mohamed Stadium off the back of an opening day 3-1 defeat at Al Shabab. Still without a head coach following the sacking of Jorge Fossati last week, the reigning champions will hope to register a positive result against Ajman, who came out on the wrong side of a 4-3 thriller at home to Bani Yas in Round One. Al Ain will be without the suspended Mohanad Salem following his sending off against Al Shabab, as well as Mohamed Ahmed, who was substituted with an injury, and Omar Abdulrahman is a doubt with illness, though he may hope to recover and make an appearance on his 22nd birthday.

At 8:30pm Bani Yas welcome Al Dhafra to the Baniyas Stadium, with the home side carrying three points from their first game of the campaign, whilst the visitors are yet to record their first points in the 2013/14 Arabian Gulf League. Also at 8:30pm, Al Ahli play host to Al Wahda at Al Wasl’s Zabeel Stadium, with the Rashid Stadium now in preparation mode for the FIFA U17 World Cup. With both teams winning their opening games – Al Ahli defeating Dubai 1-0 and Al Wahda winning 3-2 against Al Nasr – this match could well provide the clash of the round, though Al Ahli will have to do without injured goalkeeper Majed Naser and defender Saad Surour, who are both in Portugal for surgery to Achilles and knee injuries respectively. Summer signing Walid Abbas may be passed fit to make his debut in defense as the Red Knights suffer an injury crisis at the back.

The first of Saturday’s three games sees Sharjah take on Al Shabab at the Sharjah Stadium, kicking off at 5:30pm. Sharjah have enjoyed a fine start to the season in both the UAE League Cup and the Arabian Gulf League, with wins over Al Jazira and Al Wasl respectively, whilst Al Shabab scored an impressive 3-1 opening day win over Al Ain. At 8:30pm Al Nasr will play their first home League game of the season against Al Shaab, with both sides having suffered narrow defeats in Round One. Al Nasr will have to do without captain Leo Lima who is suspended following his sending off against Al Wahda, but Habib Al Fardan is expected to return after sitting out last weekend’s match with a muscle strain. Concluding the second round, Al Jazira welcome Al Wasl to the Mohammed bin Zayed Stadium at 8:30pm, and having left it until the last minute to secure all three points against Al Shaab last week Luis Milla will hope for a more convincing win this time. Al Wasl were subjected to a 1-0 opening day loss at home to Sharjah, and UAE international midfielder Rashid Essa suffered an injury setback on his return to League action, so head coach Laurent Banide will hope for a more positive outcome in Round Two.