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Gyan hat-trick clinches 2012-2013 Etisalat Pro League for Al Ain

Al Ain officially secured the Etisalat Pro League 2012-2013 title by defeating Dubai 3-0 in Round 22 at the Tahnoun bin Mohammed Stadium on Thursday night, making them the first club to win two successive League titles in a row since the formation of professional football in the UAE in 2008. Al Ain’s points total of 58, with a lead of 16 points and just four games left to play, makes it mathematically impossible for 2nd-placed Al Ahli or 3rd-placed Bani Yas to catch them. Asamoah Gyan scored his 26th, 27th and 28th League goals of the season to give Al Ain the ?? win, which leaves the losing side Dubai in 10th position on 23 points after 22 games.

The game started relatively quietly, with Al Ain first to register a notable attack as Omar Abdulrahman set up Asamoah Gyan in the box, but the Ghanaian dragged his 7th-minute shot wide of the right-hand post. In the 9th minute Omar Abdulrahman’s free kick from distance evaded everyone in the box and bounced up awkwardly in front of the Dubai goalkeeper Jamal Abdullah, but he reacted quickly to make a flying catch. Dubai gradually found their way into the game, exerting some pressure on the home goal with efforts from Mohammed Ali Hussain and Magrao, but nothing could trouble Abdulla Sultan between the sticks for Al Ain. In the 30th minute Al Ain almost got their noses in front after a beautifully worked move, started on the left by Jires Kembo-Ekoko. The Frenchman combined with Asamoah Gyan and Omar Abdulrahman, with the latter floating a wonderful ball through for his brother Mohamed Abdulrahman, but he just missed his connection and couldn’t get on the end of it to divert the ball home. Al Ain continued to threaten as Mohamed Abdulrahman’s effort from an Omar Abdulrahman through-ball was cleared off the line by Dubai defender Yousif Mohamed in the 32nd minute, and seconds later Asamoah Gyan’s glancing header was beaten away by Jamal Abdullah. In the 35th minute Kembo-Ekoko cut inside from the left to unleash a strong right-footed drive, but it skimmed just past the left upright. Two minutes later the inevitable goal finally arrived, as Asamoah Gyan rose above his marker Kayed Abdulla to power home Ahmed Al Shamisi’s cross from the left, making it 1-0 to Al Ain in the 37th minute. Kembo-Ekoko was presented a gilt-edged chance to double Al Ain’s lead right before half-time as Mohamed Abdulrahman split the defense with a perfect pass, but the French striker elected not to shoot first time and took too many touches as the chance evaporated, keeping the score down to 1-0 at the break.

In the second half it was more of the same from Al Ain, as their attacking force worked together to create numerous chances. In the 55th minute Ahmed Al Shamisi’s curling free kick from distance took a deflection off a head in the Dubai wall and clattered the crossbar, and a minute later it was yet another fine delivery from the left by Al Shamisi that enabled the home side to double their lead as Asamoah Gyan replicated his first half goal with another strong header to make it 2-0 in the 56th minute. Less than five minutes later the Ghanaian striker almost completed his hat-trick as he ran onto a through ball from Mohamed Abdulrahman but his left-footed shot was saved by Jamal Abdullah. Fifteen minutes from time Asamoah Gyan did manage to get his hat-trick, as a long punt upfield from Al Ain goalkeeper Abdullah Sultan reached Gyan in the box, who hit it on the half-volley with a fine finish into the bottom corner making it 3-0 to Al Ain in the 75th minute. The hat-trick hero was then substituted in the 80th minute to a standing ovation, safe in the knowledge that his impressive goal haul played a large part in Al Ain successfully retaining their title of Champions of the Etisalat Pro League. Omar Abdulrahman went close to rounding off the win but saw his 87th-minute effort saved by Jamal Abdullah, and with the scoreline 3-0 at the final whistle, Al Ain’s players, management and fans celebrated their back-to-back title-winning success.