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Six teams fight for top positions in the Etisalat Pro-League and four struggle to avoid relegation

 

The two last Rounds have decided the champions of the Etisalat Pro-League for the 2010/2011 season as well as the relegated team to the first division. Abu Dhabi-based Al Jazira have captured the League title following their 4-0 victory over hosts Dubai-based Al Wasl in Round 18 at the losers' pitch on May 16 and Al Dhafra were relegated to First Division League after losing 4-6 to Dubai in Round 19 held last Friday May 20.

Al Jazira snatched the League title with 46 points, a balance which was completely beyond the reach of their nearest second-placed competitors Bani Yas on 34 points. They came to raise their tally to 49 points following their 5-2 win over Kalba who are classified second from bottom with 17 points. Al Jazira won the President's Cup last month to make the double for the first time in their history. They made another record this season after continuing their unbeaten march in 27 matches, breaking Al Wasl's 26-match record obtained earlier. The Brazilian coach Abel Braga will lead the League champions in their three remaining games against Al Shabab, Al Ain and Dubai. Braga told Al Jazira's players in the dressing room after their last Round match against Kalba, that he was forced to go back to his home country due to family circumstances. He disclosed that he will guide Brazilian team Fluminese starting from next season.

On the other hand, Al Dhafra have collected only 12 points out of 19 matches and they failed to come out with a single win in all the games they played so far in the second Round of the League competition. They collected only one point in the second Round as a result of their goalless draw against Al Ahli in Round 12 and 11 points in the first Round after beating Al Ahli 2-0 in their opening encounter, Kalba 3-1 and Al Wahda 4-2, drawing twice to Al Ain and Al Nasr with the same margin 1-1 and losing in 6 games.

After Al Jazira have put an end to the League title struggle, the second and third positions have turned to be a special championship as winning one of them will secure a berth in the 2012 AFC Champions League. Bani Yas are the closest squad to make it to the continental competition as they are five points ahead of their nearest rivals Al Shabab who are taking third place with 29 points after being held to a 1-1 draw by Al Wahda in their last week match. Besides Bani Yas and Al Shabab, four other teams Al Wasl, Al Wahda, Al Nasr and Al Ahli have a chance to proceed forward and struggle for top spots.

Only two games of Round 19 ended in a draw and four teams added three points to their tally. Al Ain failed to continue their winning streak to lose two points at home when they were tied to a goalless draw against visitors Al Wasl on Friday May 20 at Tahnoun Bin Mohammad Stadium in Qattara, a result that kept the home team at the relegation zone on 22 points and put Al Wasl in 4th spot with 28 points.

With a late goal scored by Salmeen Khamis seven minutes to official time, Dubai-based Al Ahli maintained their first victory since the start of the second Round of the Etisalat Pro-League Competition. .They defeated Sharjah 3-2 in Round 19 game to raise their tally to 26 points that put them in 7th place, three ahead of the losers Sharjah who are classified in 8th position with 23 points. Sharjah are also in the relegation zone along with Dubai, Al Ain and Kalba.

In Round 20, Kalba will host Al Ain in a crucial game to be played next Saturday May 28. A defeat for the hosts squad Kalba will force them to relegate to the First Division League with two rounds to go. But a draw or a win by Kalba will remain things without change till Round 21. Dubai will play Al Wasl at the latters' home ground while Sharjah are to face Al Jazira at Mohammad Bin Zayed Stadium in Abu Dhabi.