Abu Dhabi: Al Shabab rallied from a two-goal deficit to shock defending Champions Al Ahli 4-2 and created the biggest upset of the Arabian Gulf League at the latter’s own backyard - the Rashid Stadium - on Sunday.
It looked as if Al Ahli was cruising to their second successive win after they made it 2-0 soon after the breather riding on goals from Ahmed Khalil (18th minute) and Humid Abdulla Abbas (46th minute). However, the match turned over its head in the next quarter as Al Shabab pumped in four goals in quick succession.
First Mohammed Marzooq, left unmarked, blasted the goal with a first time side volley after a long ball from Dawood Ali was headed in by Edgar Bruno Da Silva.
That goal provided the much needed impetus to the Al Shabab players. They went on to draw level in the 62nd minute.
This time Luvannor Henrique De Souse rose high to nod home a pin point corner from Carlos Villanueva. Soon after that, defender Mohammed Ali Ayed put the visitors in the lead for the first time in the match by heading home a set piece from Haydarov Azizbek.
The sudden turnaround of events, by now, had completely rattled the Al Ahli defense and they clearly looked in tatters. In the 80th minute, De Souse came up with a sliding deflection to score his second and the fourth goal for Al Shabab, off a measured cross by Abdulla Faraj Marzouq.
The first half saw Ismaeel Al Hamadi’s first time shot find the bottom of the Al Shabab framework in the 14th minute. Al Ahli were in the driver’s seat after the first quarter when an unmarked Khalil timed his run to perfection to tap home a Luis Antonio Jiménez curling free-kick from right flank.
Immediately after the change of ends, medio Abbas, despite having two defenders in front of him, managed to find the back of the goal with a left-footed effort after Khalil found him with a defense splitting through.
The victory over the holders will be a huge boost for Al Shabab, who were playing the first match. Their opener against Al Ain was put on hold last week as the latter was busy with AFC Champions league commitments.
In another encounter played at the Kalba Union Sports & Cultural Club Stadium, Bani Yas and Kalba split points after playing out a 1-1 draw. Both goals come through penalty conversions.
Kalba took the lead after Khalifa Salem Ali was brought down by Bani Yas defender Yousef Jaber Naser in side the ‘D’ and referee had no hesitation is pointing it out to the spot. Italian recruit Danilo Petrolli, who stepped in to take the penalty, was too good to miss out on that opportunity and found the goal with a neat placement.
Later, in the 73rd minute, a chip from Haboush Saleh Haboush found the hand of Petrolli inside the box and the resultant penalty was put into the back of the net with ease by Joan Verdu.
