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Al Shaab secure Pro League survival as Dibba Al Fujairah are relegated

Al Shaab secured safety with a hard-fought 2-1 win over Al Shabab at the Maktoum bin Rashid Al Maktoum Stadium to guarantee playing in the Etisalat Pro League next season, at the expense of battling Dibba Al Fujairah, who are relegated after a brave 3-3 draw at Ajman and will now face life back in the first division. The dramatic relegation fight went right to the wire in the teams’ final Round 26 games but it was Al Shaab who held their nerve to finish the season in 12th place on 25 points, whilst Dibba Al Fujairah go down with a 13th-placed finish on 21 points.

Al Shabab 1-2 Al Shaab

With survival in their own hands, Al Shaab started with determination and as early as the 7th minute Michael Laurent Ndri saw his goalbound shot on the half-volley saved by Al Shabab goalkeeper Ismail Rabee. After much pressing, the visitors managed to get ahead in the 24th minute when Al Shabab’s defense failed to deal with a long ball and Ndri streamed forward before squaring for Nasser Khamis to finish from close range, making it 1-0 to Al Shaab. In the 40th minute Hassan Maatouk saw his fierce shot saved as Al Shaab attempted to double their lead before the break but the advantage remained narrow at half time.

After the restart Al Shaab goalkeeper Mutaz Abdulla had to be alert to keep out Essa Mohammed’s on target header in the 51st minute, and seven minutes later Ismail Rabee made an important save at the other end to deny Al Shaab’s goalscorer Nasser Khamis from getting a second. In the 63rd minute Al Shabab dealt a blow to Al Shaab by getting back on level terms, as Manei Mohamed fired a fine dipping volley from outside the box straight off the back of a poor Al Shaab clearance to make it 1-1. Al Shaab tried to regain their lead quickly but Michael Laurent Ndri saw his 67th-minute strike fly just wide of the post. The French striker didn’t need long to find the target though as he got Al Shaab back in front in the 75th minute with an excellent strike across goal to make it 2-1, prompting exuberant celebrations from head coach Marius Sumudica, who was sent to the stands for running the length of the touchline to celebrate with his players. The celebrations continued as the referee blew his whistle to confirm a 2-1 win for Al Shaab and guaranteed Pro League football next season.


Ajman 3-3 Dibba Al Fujairah

Dibba Al Fujairah’s courageous fight to stay in the Etisalat Pro League looked to be coming to an early end as Ajman stormed into a 2-0 lead, with Founeke Sy netting first in the 8th minute before Moroccan playmaker Driss Fettouhi scored the second in the 22nd minute. But the never-say-die attitude instilled in the players by head coach Dr. Abdullah Misfer shone thorough as the visiting side recovered the deficit before the half-time break, with Alex pulling the first goal back for Dibba Al Fujairah in the 37th minute before Khalil Al Ali scored to make it 2-2 in the 42nd minute. Despite their fight, Dibba came unstuck again in the second half as Driss Fettouhi scored his brace in the 76th minute to put Ajman 3-2 up. Showing extraordinary fighting spirit, Dibba fought back yet again to equalise at 3-3 in the 86th minute, with Alex scoring his second of the game, but it was not enough for plucky Dibba as Al Shaab’s win meant they were relegated regardless of their result.