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Al Shaab sit on top of league table on goal difference

The Etisalat Pro league 2012-2013 first round matches were concluded yesterday with a big and high standard match between Al Jazira and Al Nasr held at the formers’ Stadium where the visitors scored two late goals in the last three minutes to win the game despite of the hosts’ lone – goal lead which was netted by Brazilian striker Ricardo Oliveira only 17 minutes from the start. The winners’ substitute Humaid Abbas leveled the score one minute before the official time and his Brazilian colleague Bruno Cesar scored the winner two minutes into stoppage time.

Twenty five goals were scored in the first round with a percentage of 3.5 goals per game among which was the first hat – trick in this season scored through Al Ahli team’s Brazilian player Graffiti in their encounter against league champions which ended with a 6-3 victory for Dubai-based side. Al Wasl’s Italian professional frotliner Emelyano Al Faro also netted the first hat -trick in the season in his team’s 4-1 win over Al Wahda and Dubai-Dibba Al Fujairah game, played at Al Aweer Stadium, ended with a goalless draw.

Al Shaab, the newly promoted team, are sitting on top of the league table on goal difference following their 4-0 victory over Ittihad Kalba. Both Dubai-based teams Al Ahli and Al Wasl are classified in the 2nd and 3rd positions after beating hosts Al Ain and Al Wahda respectively followed by their city rivals Al Shabab and Al Nasr in the fourth and fifth spots who beat Bani Yas and Al Jazira 2-0 and 2-1 respectively. Ajman and Al Dhafra along with Dubai and Dibba Al Fujairah were tied to a draw to share points, whereas Al Jazira, Bani Yas, Al Ain, Al Wahda and Kalba lost in the opening round and are yet to open their account, note that three among which were crowned champions for the last three seasons.

It is worth motioning that the French player Founeke sy has scored the fastest goal in this round against Al Dhafra only 8 minutes into play.