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Al Shaab outclass Al Ain 1-0 to boost Pro League survival hopes

 

Al Shaab doubled their chance to stay for another season in the Pro League following their win over the league fifth edition champions Al Ain by a solitary goal scored by Michael Laurent nine minutes to time in the Etisalat Pro League round 23 match played this evening at Khalid bin Mohammad Stadium in Sharjah. The winners raised their balance to 21 points to remain in 12th position, ahead of Dibba Al Fujairah with seven points after the latters lost to Al Shabab

Al Ain played the tie missing the efforts of a number of their key players including the four expatriate players Asamoah Gyan, Mirel Radoi, Alex Brosque and Jires Ekoko in addition to the three brothers Omar, Khaled and Mohammad Abdulrahman, along with Helal Saeed and the defenders Mohanad Al Anzi, Ismail Ahmad, Faris Jumaa, Mohammad Ahmed and the goalkeeper Mahmoud Al Mas. 

Al Shaab also played without some of their probables including

Ibrahim Khalil, Fahad Rashoud, Ali Yaqoob, Omar Al Shehhi and Saeed Mubarak due to different reasons.

Al Ain Romanian coach Olaroiu Cosmin deliberately did not field on this big number of players so as to give them more rest before the crucial AFC Champions League match where Al Ain will host their Iranian opponents in the last game of the group stages.

Despite of playing with a line up composed of young players, but Al Ain demonstrated a strong and competitive performance making a number of attempts the most dangerous of which was in the 27th minute when Ahmad Al Shamsi’s cross ball from inside the six yard area was squandered by his colleague Mohammad Salim Al Saadi who sent a weak volley into the hands of Al Shaab goalkeeper Mutaz Abdulla.

The attempts of the two sides continued without any danger on the goals, but Al Ain striker Yousuf Ahmed failed to give his team the lead one minute before the break when he squandered a lovely chance. Apart from these two opportunities lost by Al Ain players, the first half did not witness any real sitters as Al Shaab attackers failed to threaten the visitors' goal to end this session with a goalless draw.

The performance of both sides went on the same pace in the second half with a lack of real opportunities. Mohammad Salem Al Saadi came close to score the opening goal for Al Ain off a powerful header in the 63rd minute, but the lucky keeper Mutaz Abdullah was happy to see the ball hit the upright before being cleared away by a defender.

Al Shaab created a valuable opportunity when Nasser Khamis sent a perfect pass to Michael Laurent, who crossed the ball in front of the goal mouth, but it hit Musallem Fayez’s foot and turned into a corner kick in 71 minute. But Al Shaab did not give up as they continued their efforts which were paid dividends when Michael Laurent netted the all-imoprtant goal of the match in 81st minute off a long ball. He muscled defender Mohammad Ali Ayed before sending  the ball to the left hand side of the goalkeeper Dawood Sulaiman. Al Ain’s attempts could not help them afterwards to level the score till the final whistle.