Fresh life was breathed into the 2020\/21 Arabian Gulf League title race in an enthralling match-week 10.
\nDrama at the top began when Bani Yas substitute Ahmed Abunamous danced through the Sharjah defence on Thursday to inflict their first defeat of the season. Al Jazira then moved level courtesy of a lively 3-2 win at an Al Wasl inspired by coach Odair Hellmann\u2019s arrival from Fluminense, while third-placed Al Nasr\u2019s limp 2-1 defeat to the 10 men of Al Ain on Friday kept them off the pace.
\nMahdi Ali, meanwhile, endured a nightmare return to Shabab Al Ahli Dubai Club, going down 3-2 at lowly Fujairah. Al Wahda\u2019s winless run extended to four matches with a dreary goalless draw at sixth-placed Ittihad Kalba, Ramon Lopes\u2019 double earned a 2-1 triumph for improving Khor Fakkan at sinking Ajman and bottom-placed Hatta remained stuck on one point after Denilson got the only goal for mid-table Al Dhafra.
\nHere are\u00a0Sport360\u00b0\u2019s\u00a0top picks and a talking point:
\nPLAYER OF THE WEEK
\nRamon Lopes (Khor Fakkan)
\n\u0627\u0633\u062a\u0645\u062a\u0639 \u0645\u0639 \u0631\u0627\u0645\u0648\u0646 \u0644\u0648\u0628\u064a\u0632 \u0628\u0627\u0644\u0647\u062f\u0641\u064a\u0646 \u0641\u064a \u0645\u0631\u0645\u0649 \u0639\u062c\u0645\u0627\u0646 ??Enjoy with Ramon Lopez and see this 2 goals ??@ADSportsTV pic.twitter.com\/2Uq4SGczAi— \u0634\u0631\u0643\u0629 \u0646\u0627\u062f\u064a \u062e\u0648\u0631\u0641\u0643\u0627\u0646 \u0644\u0643\u0631\u0629 \u0627\u0644\u0642\u062f\u0645 (@KhorFakkanfc) December 19, 2020
\nAn eventful contest between two struggling sides which finished with 10 men apiece was, effectively, settled within the first half hour.
\nBrazilian forward Lopes\u2019 brace \u2013 aided by goalkeeper Ali Al Hosani\u2019s flimsy attempt to repel the first – was enough to see off Ajman\u2019s second-half revival.
\nThat\u2019s five goals in his last three AGL run-outs, an invaluable run of form helping to propel Caio Zanardi\u2019s troops out of the drop zone.
\nGOAL OF THE WEEK
\nAhmed Abunamous (Bani Yas)
\n\u0627\u0633\u062a\u0641\u062a\u0627\u0621 #\u0623\u0628\u0648\u0638\u0628\u064a_\u0627\u0644\u0631\u064a\u0627\u0636\u064a\u0629..\u0645\u0627 \u0623\u062c\u0645\u0644 \u0647\u062f\u0641 \u0641\u064a \u0627\u0644\u062c\u0648\u0644\u0629 \u0627\u0644\u0639\u0627\u0634\u0631\u0629\u061f1- \u0647\u062f\u0641 "\u0645\u0627\u0631\u0627\u062f\u0648\u0646\u064a" \u0644\u0640 #\u0623\u062d\u0645\u062f_\u0623\u0628\u0648\u0646\u0627\u0645\u0648\u0633 2- \u0631\u0643\u0644\u0629 \u062d\u0631\u0629 \u0628\u0639\u064a\u062f\u0629 \u0627\u0644\u0645\u062f\u0649 \u0644\u0640 #\u0643\u0648\u0633\u0627\u0646\u0648\u0641\u064a\u062a\u0634 3- \u062a\u0633\u062f\u064a\u062f\u0629 "\u0639\u0644\u0649 \u0627\u0644\u0637\u0627\u064a\u0631" \u0644\u0640 #\u0641\u0627\u0628\u064a\u0648_\u0644\u064a\u0645\u0627 4- \u062a\u0645\u0631\u064a\u0631\u0629 \u0633\u062d\u0631\u064a\u0629 \u0648\u0644\u0645\u0633\u0629 \u062c\u0645\u064a\u0644\u0629 \u0644\u0640 #\u0641\u0631\u0627\u0633_\u0628\u0627\u0644\u0639\u0631\u0628\u064a 5- \u0647\u062f\u0641 "\u0628\u0627\u0644\u0643\u0639\u0628" \u0644\u0640 #\u0631\u0627\u0645\u0648\u0646_\u0644\u0648\u0628\u064a\u0632 #\u062f\u0648\u0631\u064a_\u0627\u0644\u062e\u0644\u064a\u062c_\u0627\u0644\u0639\u0631\u0628\u064a pic.twitter.com\/z5TDFBPf3l— \u0642\u0646\u0627\u0629 \u0623\u0628\u0648\u0638\u0628\u064a \u0627\u0644\u0631\u064a\u0627\u0636\u064a\u0629 (@ADSportsTV) December 18, 2020
\nThis was some way to end the division\u2019s only undefeated record.
\nAbunamous had been on the park for less than two minutes when he picked up possession within the centre-circle. Beguiling footwork at pace – reminiscent of Diego Maradona at World Cup 1986 – witnessed him breeze through four challenges, before sending UAE goalkeeper Adel Al Hosani the wrong way with a precise low finish.
\nAn unforgettable moment.
\nCOACH OF THE WEEK
\nPedro Emanuel (Al Ain)
\n\u0627\u0645\u062a\u062f\u062d \u062c\u0647\u0648\u062f \u0627\u0644\u0644\u0627\u0639\u0628\u064a\u0646 \u0648\u0648\u062c\u0647 \u062a\u062d\u064a\u0629 \u062e\u0627\u0635\u0629 \u0644\u0645\u062d\u0645\u062f \u0623\u062d\u0645\u062f.. \u0628\u064a\u062f\u0631\u0648: \u062d\u0635\u062f\u0646\u0627 \u0627\u0644\u0646\u0642\u0627\u0637 \u0627\u0644\u062b\u0644\u0627\u062b \u0628\u0631\u0648\u062d \u0627\u0644\u0642\u062a\u0627\u0644 \u0648\u0627\u0644\u0631\u063a\u0628\u0629 \u0627\u0644\u0642\u0648\u064a\u0629 \u0641\u064a \u0627\u0644\u0641\u0648\u0632\u25aa\ufe0f\u0646\u0647\u0646\u0626 \u062c\u0645\u0627\u0647\u064a\u0631\u0646\u0627 \u0627\u0644\u0630\u064a\u0646 \u0639\u0627\u064a\u0634\u0648\u0627 \u0645\u0639\u0646\u0627 \u0638\u0631\u0648\u0641\u0627\u064b \u0627\u0633\u062a\u062b\u0646\u0627\u0626\u064a\u0629\u25aa\ufe0f\u0646\u0639\u064a\u0634 \u0638\u0631\u0648\u0641\u0627\u064b \u0635\u0639\u0628\u0629 \u0648\u0645\u0627 \u064a\u062a\u0648\u0641\u0631 \u0644\u0645\u0646\u0627\u0641\u0633\u064a\u0646\u0627 \u0645\u0646 \u0623\u0633\u0644\u062d\u0629 \u0644\u0627 \u064a\u062a\u0648\u0641\u0631 \u0644\u0646\u0627? https:\/\/t.co\/GDCoHAEF2h#\u0646\u0627\u062f\u064a_\u0627\u0644\u0639\u064a\u0646 pic.twitter.com\/BjyMaFBcYs— \u0646\u0627\u062f\u064a \u0627\u0644\u0639\u064a\u0646 (@alainfcae) December 18, 2020
\nEmanuel needed more than a result this weekend \u2013 he also needed a performance.
\nMercifully for the ex-Porto defender, his players delivered versus Nasr. The UAE\u2019s most-decorated club had slid into a listless three-match winless run, producing widespread disquiet.
\nFears about another troubling day grew sonorous when UAE wide man Bandar Al Ahbabi was dismissed for a high challenge in just the 23rd minute. Fast forward to the final whistle and an enlivening win against expected title challengers had been secured, even with Japan international Tsukasa Shiotani registering an own goal.
\nCrisis? What crisis.
\nTALKING POINT
\nFor a man of such achievements, Ali still has plenty to prove
\nMahdi Ali is an undisputed legend of UAE football.
\nHis achievements with various national sides \u2013 paternal nurturing of the \u2018Golden Generation\u2019, entry to the London 2012 Olympics, Gulf Cup 2013 victory and third place at the 2015 Asian Cup – stand the test of time. His record at club level, however, is less glorious.
\nIs he, truly, the best candidate to transform a rich Shabab Al Ahli squad from inexplicable also-rans to expected title contenders? Early concerns about his suitability will only have grown after Friday\u2019s chastening return at Fujairah.
\nAli answered the merged outfit\u2019s previous emergency call \u2013 he represented Al Ahli as a player from 1983-98 – in December 2017 when Cosmin Olaroiu\u2019s iconic reign unravelled, exiting after a forgettable fifth-placed finish and middling win percentage of 42.1. This was a marginal decline from his opening stint\u2019s win percentage of 50, recorded from November 2009-February 2010.
\nNo other club sides have been led by the 55-year-old. He\u2019s lifted zero trophies in all three Ahli stints.
\nIt is not all negative. Shabab Al Ahli at Fujairah recorded 69-per-cent possession and made more than three times their hosts\u2019 attempts (21\/6).
\nAli cannot be blamed for wild mistakes headlined by veteran Walid Abbas\u2019 uncharacteristically sloppy giveaway for the first, plus centre-back partner Hamdan Al Kamali\u2019s erratic culpability for the two following strikes.
\nAll eyes will be on Saturday\u2019s visit of fourth-placed Bani Yas.
\nMATCH-WEEK 10 RESULTS
\nThursday
\nAl Dhafra 1-0 Hatta
\nBani Yas 1-0 Sharjah
\nAl Wasl 2-3 Al Jazira
\nFriday
\nIttihad Kalba 0-0 Al Wahda
\nFujairah 3-2 Shabab Al Ahli Dubai Club
\nAl Nasr 1-2 Al Ain
\nAjman 1-2 Khor Fakkan<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"
Fresh life was breathed into the 2020\/21 Arabian Gulf League title race in an enthralling match-week 10.
\nDrama at the top began when Bani Yas substitute Ahmed Abunamous danced through the Sharjah defence on Thursday to inflict their first defeat of the season. Al Jazira then moved level courtesy of a lively 3-2 win at an Al Wasl inspired by coach Odair Hellmann\u2019s arrival from Fluminense, while third-placed Al Nasr\u2019s limp 2-1 defeat to the 10 men of Al Ain on Friday kept them off the pace.
\nMahdi Ali, meanwhile, endured a nightmare return to Shabab Al Ahli Dubai Club, going down 3-2 at lowly Fujairah. Al Wahda\u2019s winless run extended to four matches with a dreary goalless draw at sixth-placed Ittihad Kalba, Ramon Lopes\u2019 double earned a 2-1 triumph for improving Khor Fakkan at sinking Ajman and bottom-placed Hatta remained stuck on one point after Denilson got the only goal for mid-table Al Dhafra.
\nHere are\u00a0Sport360\u00b0\u2019s\u00a0top picks and a talking point:
\nPLAYER OF THE WEEK
\nRamon Lopes (Khor Fakkan)
\n\u0627\u0633\u062a\u0645\u062a\u0639 \u0645\u0639 \u0631\u0627\u0645\u0648\u0646 \u0644\u0648\u0628\u064a\u0632 \u0628\u0627\u0644\u0647\u062f\u0641\u064a\u0646 \u0641\u064a \u0645\u0631\u0645\u0649 \u0639\u062c\u0645\u0627\u0646 ??Enjoy with Ramon Lopez and see this 2 goals ??@ADSportsTV pic.twitter.com\/2Uq4SGczAi\u2014 \u0634\u0631\u0643\u0629 \u0646\u0627\u062f\u064a \u062e\u0648\u0631\u0641\u0643\u0627\u0646 \u0644\u0643\u0631\u0629 \u0627\u0644\u0642\u062f\u0645 (@KhorFakkanfc) December 19, 2020
\nAn eventful contest between two struggling sides which finished with 10 men apiece was, effectively, settled within the first half hour.
\nBrazilian forward Lopes\u2019 brace \u2013 aided by goalkeeper Ali Al Hosani\u2019s flimsy attempt to repel the first \u2013 was enough to see off Ajman\u2019s second-half revival.
\nThat\u2019s five goals in his last three AGL run-outs, an invaluable run of form helping to propel Caio Zanardi\u2019s troops out of the drop zone.
\nGOAL OF THE WEEK
\nAhmed Abunamous (Bani Yas)
\n\u0627\u0633\u062a\u0641\u062a\u0627\u0621 #\u0623\u0628\u0648\u0638\u0628\u064a_\u0627\u0644\u0631\u064a\u0627\u0636\u064a\u0629..\u0645\u0627 \u0623\u062c\u0645\u0644 \u0647\u062f\u0641 \u0641\u064a \u0627\u0644\u062c\u0648\u0644\u0629 \u0627\u0644\u0639\u0627\u0634\u0631\u0629\u061f1- \u0647\u062f\u0641 “\u0645\u0627\u0631\u0627\u062f\u0648\u0646\u064a” \u0644\u0640 #\u0623\u062d\u0645\u062f_\u0623\u0628\u0648\u0646\u0627\u0645\u0648\u0633 2- \u0631\u0643\u0644\u0629 \u062d\u0631\u0629 \u0628\u0639\u064a\u062f\u0629 \u0627\u0644\u0645\u062f\u0649 \u0644\u0640 #\u0643\u0648\u0633\u0627\u0646\u0648\u0641\u064a\u062a\u0634 3- \u062a\u0633\u062f\u064a\u062f\u0629 “\u0639\u0644\u0649 \u0627\u0644\u0637\u0627\u064a\u0631” \u0644\u0640 #\u0641\u0627\u0628\u064a\u0648_\u0644\u064a\u0645\u0627 4- \u062a\u0645\u0631\u064a\u0631\u0629 \u0633\u062d\u0631\u064a\u0629 \u0648\u0644\u0645\u0633\u0629 \u062c\u0645\u064a\u0644\u0629 \u0644\u0640 #\u0641\u0631\u0627\u0633_\u0628\u0627\u0644\u0639\u0631\u0628\u064a 5- \u0647\u062f\u0641 “\u0628\u0627\u0644\u0643\u0639\u0628” \u0644\u0640 #\u0631\u0627\u0645\u0648\u0646_\u0644\u0648\u0628\u064a\u0632 #\u062f\u0648\u0631\u064a_\u0627\u0644\u062e\u0644\u064a\u062c_\u0627\u0644\u0639\u0631\u0628\u064a pic.twitter.com\/z5TDFBPf3l\u2014 \u0642\u0646\u0627\u0629 \u0623\u0628\u0648\u0638\u0628\u064a \u0627\u0644\u0631\u064a\u0627\u0636\u064a\u0629 (@ADSportsTV) December 18, 2020
\nThis was some way to end the division\u2019s only undefeated record.
\nAbunamous had been on the park for less than two minutes when he picked up possession within the centre-circle. Beguiling footwork at pace \u2013 reminiscent of Diego Maradona at World Cup 1986 \u2013 witnessed him breeze through four challenges, before sending UAE goalkeeper Adel Al Hosani the wrong way with a precise low finish.
\nAn unforgettable moment.
\nCOACH OF THE WEEK
\nPedro Emanuel (Al Ain)
\n\u0627\u0645\u062a\u062f\u062d \u062c\u0647\u0648\u062f \u0627\u0644\u0644\u0627\u0639\u0628\u064a\u0646 \u0648\u0648\u062c\u0647 \u062a\u062d\u064a\u0629 \u062e\u0627\u0635\u0629 \u0644\u0645\u062d\u0645\u062f \u0623\u062d\u0645\u062f.. \u0628\u064a\u062f\u0631\u0648: \u062d\u0635\u062f\u0646\u0627 \u0627\u0644\u0646\u0642\u0627\u0637 \u0627\u0644\u062b\u0644\u0627\u062b \u0628\u0631\u0648\u062d \u0627\u0644\u0642\u062a\u0627\u0644 \u0648\u0627\u0644\u0631\u063a\u0628\u0629 \u0627\u0644\u0642\u0648\u064a\u0629 \u0641\u064a \u0627\u0644\u0641\u0648\u0632\u25aa\ufe0f\u0646\u0647\u0646\u0626 \u062c\u0645\u0627\u0647\u064a\u0631\u0646\u0627 \u0627\u0644\u0630\u064a\u0646 \u0639\u0627\u064a\u0634\u0648\u0627 \u0645\u0639\u0646\u0627 \u0638\u0631\u0648\u0641\u0627\u064b \u0627\u0633\u062a\u062b\u0646\u0627\u0626\u064a\u0629\u25aa\ufe0f\u0646\u0639\u064a\u0634 \u0638\u0631\u0648\u0641\u0627\u064b \u0635\u0639\u0628\u0629 \u0648\u0645\u0627 \u064a\u062a\u0648\u0641\u0631 \u0644\u0645\u0646\u0627\u0641\u0633\u064a\u0646\u0627 \u0645\u0646 \u0623\u0633\u0644\u062d\u0629 \u0644\u0627 \u064a\u062a\u0648\u0641\u0631 \u0644\u0646\u0627? https:\/\/t.co\/GDCoHAEF2h#\u0646\u0627\u062f\u064a_\u0627\u0644\u0639\u064a\u0646 pic.twitter.com\/BjyMaFBcYs\u2014 \u0646\u0627\u062f\u064a \u0627\u0644\u0639\u064a\u0646 (@alainfcae) December 18, 2020
\nEmanuel needed more than a result this weekend \u2013 he also needed a performance.
\nMercifully for the ex-Porto defender, his players delivered versus Nasr. The UAE\u2019s most-decorated club had slid into a listless three-match winless run, producing widespread disquiet.
\nFears about another troubling day grew sonorous when UAE wide man Bandar Al Ahbabi was dismissed for a high challenge in just the 23rd minute. Fast forward to the final whistle and an enlivening win against expected title challengers had been secured, even with Japan international Tsukasa Shiotani registering an own goal.
\nCrisis? What crisis.
\nTALKING POINT
\nFor a man of such achievements, Ali still has plenty to prove
\nMahdi Ali is an undisputed legend of UAE football.
\nHis achievements with various national sides \u2013 paternal nurturing of the \u2018Golden Generation\u2019, entry to the London 2012 Olympics, Gulf Cup 2013 victory and third place at the 2015 Asian Cup \u2013 stand the test of time. His record at club level, however, is less glorious.
\nIs he, truly, the best candidate to transform a rich Shabab Al Ahli squad from inexplicable also-rans to expected title contenders? Early concerns about his suitability will only have grown after Friday\u2019s chastening return at Fujairah.
\nAli answered the merged outfit\u2019s previous emergency call \u2013 he represented Al Ahli as a player from 1983-98 \u2013 in December 2017 when Cosmin Olaroiu\u2019s iconic reign unravelled, exiting after a forgettable fifth-placed finish and middling win percentage of 42.1. This was a marginal decline from his opening stint\u2019s win percentage of 50, recorded from November 2009-February 2010.
\nNo other club sides have been led by the 55-year-old. He\u2019s lifted zero trophies in all three Ahli stints.
\nIt is not all negative. Shabab Al Ahli at Fujairah recorded 69-per-cent possession and made more than three times their hosts\u2019 attempts (21\/6).
\nAli cannot be blamed for wild mistakes headlined by veteran Walid Abbas\u2019 uncharacteristically sloppy giveaway for the first, plus centre-back partner Hamdan Al Kamali\u2019s erratic culpability for the two following strikes.
\nAll eyes will be on Saturday\u2019s visit of fourth-placed Bani Yas.
\nMATCH-WEEK 10 RESULTS
\nThursday
\nAl Dhafra 1-0 Hatta
\nBani Yas 1-0 Sharjah
\nAl Wasl 2-3 Al Jazira
\nFriday
\nIttihad Kalba 0-0 Al Wahda
\nFujairah 3-2 Shabab Al Ahli Dubai Club
\nAl Nasr 1-2 Al Ain
\nAjman 1-2 Khor Fakkan<\/p>\n<\/div>","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":0,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"image","meta":[],"categories":[1],"tags":[],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/sportinfo.pro\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/11735"}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/sportinfo.pro\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/sportinfo.pro\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/sportinfo.pro\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/users\/1"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/sportinfo.pro\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fcomments&post=11735"}],"version-history":[{"count":1,"href":"https:\/\/sportinfo.pro\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/11735\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":11736,"href":"https:\/\/sportinfo.pro\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/11735\/revisions\/11736"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/sportinfo.pro\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fmedia&parent=11735"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/sportinfo.pro\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fcategories&post=11735"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/sportinfo.pro\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Ftags&post=11735"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}