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Al Shabab continue unbeaten run with 2-0 win over Al Ahli

Al Shabab continued their magnificent 13-game unbeaten run, notching up their 8th straight victory with a 2-0 win, and leaving Al Ahli to rue a second half penalty miss which would have got them back on level terms. Al Ahli fluffed their lines in front of goal at the Maktoum bin Rashid Al Maktoum Stadium on Thursday night, and Al Shabab made them pay for their wayward finishing. 

Al Ahli started with a threatening forward four of Ismaeil Al Hammadi, Ricardo Quaresma, Luis Antonio Jiminez and the returning Grafite, back after suspension, with another strong option in the form of Ahmad Khalil among the substitutes, whilst Al Shabab continued with their Brazilian flair trio of Ciel, Edgar and Luiz Alves. 

It was Al Ahli's attack that got off to the quicker start, putting pressure on Al Shabab's back line and causing a goal-line scramble within the first fifteen minutes. The Red Knights notched up 4 corners in the opening stages, compared to just one for the home side, with the expertise of Portugal international Quaresma clearly evident. But Al Shabab's defense remained resolute and from 20 minutes onwards they began to get more of a foothold on the game and carve out more chances for themselves. 

Indeed it was the home side who drew first blood, breaking the deadlock in quite spectacular style in the 31st minute. In a show of fine skill, the Brazilians combined in a great one-two move started and finished by Ciel, who latched onto a clever back heel by his compatriot Luiz Alves, and unleashed a superb curling left-footed shot into the top left corner of the goal to put Al Shabab 1-0 up. 

Buoyant from going in front, Al Shabab began to exert more pressure on Al Ahli as they went in search of a second goal. Majed Nasser was forced into an awkward save as Luiz Alves' shot bobbled up in front of him in the 34th minute, but the keeper got down low to his left to make the stop. Completing the dominance of the Brazilian trio, this time it was Edgar's turn to get his head on the end of the resulting corner, but the forward sent his header wide. A minute later Al Shabab split Al Ahli's defense in half as Ciel went clean through on goal, but Majed Nasser's experience paid off as he made himself big and saved well, sending the teams in with a 1-0 scoreline at half time. 

Al Shabab continued their attacking game at the start of the second half, but it looked as though Al Ahli had found a way back into the game as Al Hammadi was tripped in the area to win a penalty in the 52nd minute. Al Ahli's captain Grafite stepped up to take the spot kick, but placed his shot almost too precisely, hitting the post to the keeper's left. Not only did he miss the chance to equalise for his side, but he also failed to seize the opportunity to add to his personal goal tally of 19 for the season, just 2 behind Al Ain's Asamoah Gyan. 

Wary of the threat of Al Ahli as they searched for an equaliser, Al Shabab tried their best to put the game out of sight as Edgar just failed to connect with a teasing cross from Walid Abbas in the 64th minute. One minute later, Majed Nasser was called into action again as he saved well from Luiz Alves and kept his side's deficit down to one goal. But it was a dreadful error from Majed Nasser in the 78th minute that put Al Shabab"s victory beyond doubt. The keeper came out to the edge of his area in an attempt to clear a long ball, but Al Shabab's Ciel beat him to it. Nasser tried to make amends but Ciel rounded the sorry keeper, sending a square ball across the face of goal for an easy tap-in for Edgar, who made no mistake in putting Al Shabab 2-0 up. 

Al Ahli immediately made a change, bringing striker Ahmad Khalil on for Majed Hassan, and the substitute had an instant impact as he latched onto a through ball and sent a curling shot just wide of the keeper's left upright. Minutes later Al Hammadi made a glaring miss when he had a clear shot on goal, and Grafite let another opportunity slip with a misplaced header. Ahmad Khalil forced another save from Ismail Rabee Juma in the Al Shabab goal late on, but the home side held on to win by two goals without reply.