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Al Ain defeat Sharjah 2-1 to take second position
Al Ain defeated Sharjah 2-1 in the Etisalat Pro league fifth round game played at Qattara Stadium to share second position with Al Wasl with 10 points each after both teams have become equal on points and goal difference while Sharjah remain in 8th spot with 4 points.
Al Ain pressed hard from the start and lost two early chances only two and four minutes into play through Asamoah Gyan and defender Faris Juma'a, but Scocco compensated for these chances when he received a heel pass from the Saudi Striker Yasser Al Qahtani and he launched a strong volley into the net from inside the box in the 6th minute. Sharjah proved afterwards that they are not an easy opponent as they made dangerous and continuous attempts through the duo Brazilians Edinho and Marcelo in addition to Ali Al Saadi but without any changes. The Ghanaian Asamoah was almost to net the second goal in the 28th minute after a cross from Abdul Aziz Fayez, but his shot passed next to the left handside of Sharjah keeper, and continuous breakthroughs of the dynamic player Abdul Aziz Fayez continued, while Sharjah showed some dangerous attacks through the active movements of Edinho. Asamoah missed another sitter when he shot wide one minute before the end of the first half.
Al Qahtani was to make it 2-1 but Sharjah goalkeeper saved bravely two minutes after the interval and Marcelo levelled the score 1-1 one minute latter after Al Ain goalie Waleed Salim saved the ball twice but he failed to control it in the third time for Marcelo to drive it home in the 48th minute bringing the game to the first square. Al Qahtani lost two successive chances when his shot flew away in the 50th and his second head-attempt hit the cross bar six minutes later. He came to lose another opportunity in the 69th minute when his header hit the woodwork. But Ali Al Wihabi scored the winner in the 74th minute when he received a smart pass from Hilal Saeed, rounded defender Fahd Abdullah before sending the ball into the far right corner making it 2-1 giving his side a 2-1 win and three valuable points.