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Al Ain overcome Al Jazira 4-1 to escape relegation; Kalba lose to Dubai 1-3 to relegate to First Division

 

Al Ain came out with a big success that made Al Jazira, the Etisalat Pro-League Champions, to suffer their first defeat in this season after beating them 4-1 in Round 21 match played tonight at Tahnoun Bin Mohammed Stadium. The hosts demonstrated a high level of football in front of a big mass of spectators who cheered up the winners through the entire 90 minutes. They raised their tally to 25 points, five ahead of Kalba who lost 1-3 to Dubai, a defeat that assured their relegation to the First Division on 20 points to join Al Dhafra who relegated earlier.

Omar Abdul Rahman put the winners into the lead only 8 minutes into the game with a severe left footer and added the second in the 36th minute. Ricardo Oliveira netted Al Jazira's lone goal four minutes before the break to end the first session with a 2-1 lead for the home team. But Omar Abdul Rahman came to squander a penalty one minute after the interval when Al Jazira's goalkeeper Ali Khusaif saved brilliantly. Jama'a Saeed from Ivory Coast added the third goal three minutes into the second session and his Brazilian teammate Elias Robero made it 4-1 in the 74th minute.

Kalba dashed their hopes and lost their last chance to escape relegation when they were beaten 3-1 by hosts Dubai in the game played at Dubai Stadium. The winners raised their balance to 26 points whilst the losers remain in their 11th previous position. The two teams ended the first half with a goalless draw after losing all the chances that came their way before the interval. Sami Anbar opened the score for the winners giving them the lead only five minutes into the second half and Abu Bakr Camara netted the second four minutes later. Mohammad Malalla reduced the deficit in the 71st minute and his colleague Gregory from France scored the equalizer seven minutes later, but the lineman cancelled the goal due to an off side and Michael Laurent made it 3-1 to secure the result for his side.

In the other matches of the day, Al Nasr got the better of Al Wasl beating them with a solitary goal which was scored by Ali Abbas in the 79th minute in the game played at Al Maktoum Stadium. The winners jumped from sixth to stay in third place on 32 points to strengthen their chance to compete for a berth in the 2012 AFC Champions League. But Al Wahda slipped two steps downward to take sixth spot on 30 points following their 1-3 defeat by Bani Yas who secured second place with 38 points. Al Wasl also went one step backwards to take fourth spot on 31 points. Al Shabab were held to a 2-2 draw by visiting team Al Ahli and Sharjah beat Al Dhafra 3-0 to stay in their previous 8th position.