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Etisalat Pro League Round 23 Review

Despite the champions already being confirmed in the previous round, the Etisalat Pro League is reaching a climax with just three games to go and plenty to fight for at both top and bottom ends of the table. Round 23 provided 25 goals as teams strive to secure safety from relegation, and challenge for Champions League positions.

Kicking off Round 23’s proceedings, bottom side Kalba lost a two-goal lead to draw 2-2 at home to Al Wasl; confirming their relegation from the Etisalat Pro League. Abdullah Al Jamhi and Edward Sadomba had given Kalba a two-goal cushion at the Kalba Union Sports & Cultural Club Stadium, but Al Wasl’s half-time substitute Mohamed Naser was at the double to earn a point for his side. Kalba remain in last place with 11 points, and even if they win all of their final three games of the campaign they will be unable to escape the drop zone. Al Wasl, meanwhile, are 9th with 28 points.

Al Wahda and Ajman shared seven goals between them at the Al Nahyan Stadium on Friday evening, as the visitors twice came from behind to take all three points with a 4-3 win. Al Wahda took an early lead through Marcelinho before being pegged back by a Boris Kabi double for Ajman – his 20th and 21st League goals of the season – but the hosts got their noses in front again with goals from Papa Waigo and Srdan Andric. Ajman battled hard, however, and Driss Fettouhi and Waleed Ahmed were on the mark to hand Abdulwahab Abdulkadir’s side a 4-3 away victory. The result sees Ajman increase their points to 26 in 10th place, whilst Al Wahda remain on 32 in 7th position.

There were fireworks in the Dubai derby at the Al Maktoum Stadium on Friday night, as Al Nasr eventually succumbed to a last-gasp 3-2 defeat at the hands of visiting Al Ahli. Giuseppe Mascara scored two spectacular carbon-copy free kicks from distance to give Al Nasr 1-0 and 2-1 leads, but Al Ahli’s Ricardo Quaresma and Ismael Al Hammadi leveled things up until Luiz Jiminez’s injury time free kick handed all the points to Quique Flores’ side. The victory gives Al Ahli 48 points as they stay in their highest possible position this season of 2nd, whilst Al Nasr dropped a place to 5th with 39 points at the close of the round.

With the title already sewn up, Cosmin Olaroiu took the opportunity to rest some of his key players ahead of Tuesday’s crucial home tie against Esteghlal in the AFC Champions League, and his under-strength Al Ain side were punished by battling Al Shaab, who secured a priceless 1-0 win over the champions to take them a step closer to securing their safety for the next Etisalat Pro League season. Michael Laurent Ndri scored the only goal of the game nine minutes from time, giving Al Shaab 21 points in 12th place and a seven-point cushion over the drop zone with three games left to play.

The second 6pm kick-off on Saturday saw Al Shabab defeat Dibba Al Fujairah 2-0, with goals from Mahmood Qassim and Ciel. The win gives Al Shabab 36 points in 6th place, whilst Dibba Al Fujairah remain in danger as they sit second-from-bottom with 14 points; seven off safety.

At 8:45pm on Saturday Bani Yas salvaged a draw at home, twice coming from behind to draw 2-2 with Al Dhafra. A Makhete Diop double for Al Dhafra – his 15th and 16th goals of the season – gave Al Dhafra 1-0 and 2-1 leads but they were twice pegged back by goals from Nawaf Mubarak and Mohammed Fawzi. Bani Yas can consider it two points dropped as they stay 3rd on 43 points; five behind second-placed Al Ahli. Al Dhafra remain solidly 8th on 30 points.

Concluding Round 23, Dubai and Al Jazira played out a 1-1 draw at the Dubai Sports & Cultural Club Stadium as Mohamed Ali Hussain handed Dubai the lead, before an unfortunate own goal by Kayed Abdualla got Al Jazira back into the game. The point moves Al Jazira back up to 4th with 40 points, whilst Dubai are 11th with 24.