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Al Shabab overcome Al Ahli 2-0 and crowned champions of the GCC Champions league

Al Shabab snatched the 26th GCC Clubs Champions league after beating Al Ahli 2-0 in the second leg match played this evening at Maktoum Bin Rashid Stadium. The winners were crowned champions in aggregate of 4-3 as Al Ahli won 3-2 in the first leg game held last week at their home ground. It was the second time for Al Shabab to bag the GCC title after their first achievement in 1992.

H.H Sheikh Mansour Bin Mohammad Bin Rashid Al Maktoum deputy chairman of Al Shabab Board of Directors attended the match and gave away the trophy and the gold medals to the champions along with Mohammad Khalfan Al Rumaithi chairman of the UAE Football Federation who handed over the silver medals to Al Ahli players, the runners up of the 26th GCC Clubs Champions league. A number of sport dignitaries and a big mass of spectators were also present who filled the stands and enthusiastically encouraged the two teams throughout the game.

Al Shabab pressed hard from the start looking for an early goal and they made their dreams come true after only 14 minutes when Mohammad Ahmed netted the first goal off a dead ball sent by Brazilian Ceil. Al Ahli tried every bit of effort to come back to atmosphere of the game and restore their hope to win the GCC title. Grafite, Ismail Al Hamadi and Jimenez made some good movements but Al Shabab's defenders deprived them from scoring with an organized and strong display. 

The losers continued their work after the interval but the insistence of the winners to maintain their precious goal was clear, since a 1-0 win would ensure them the championship on goal difference of scored goals at the opponents' pitch.

Hasek brought in Faisal Khalil in the second session to play with three strikers but all their attempts were in vain. Dawood Ali dashed the hopes of Al Ahli and made things beyond their reach when he scored the second goal with a long-range volley that beat the goalkeeper Al Zeaabi, hit the upright before going into the net in the 77th minute.

The fans of Al Shabab celebrated this big achievement with the players on the pitch at the end of the game.