Dubai: A three-way battle for second opened up in Group A of the Arabian Gulf Cup this weekend, after Al Ain, Al Nasr and Ajman, all went level on four points from the first three games.
Leaders Al Jazira took full control of the group, going three points clear with a 3-0 win at Al Nasr on Friday, thanks to goals from Ali Mabkhout, Sardor Rashidov and Ahmad Al Ghilani.
Al Nasr were originally joint leaders with Al Jazira, but that defeat saw them drop down to second, level with Al Ain who beat Al Dhafra 7-1 at home on Saturday, and Ajman who drew goalless away to Hatta on Friday.
In Al Ain’s game, Dyanfres Douglas opened with a brace around the half hour mark followed by a third from Caio Lucas minutes later. Douglas then completed his hat-trick before the break and made it four before the hour.
Caio’s brace was complete on 69 minutes before Abdullah Abdul Qader pulled one back for Al Dhafra with four minutes remaining, only for Yousuf Ahmad to make it seven before the whistle.
In Group B, Al Wasl maintained their lead despite being held to a 2-2 draw at home to Shabab Al Ahli Dubai, and Emirates missed the chance to make second their own with a goalless draw at home joint-runners-up Dibba.
Shabab Ahli’s Moon Chang-jin cancelled out Caio Correa’s first-half stoppage-time penalty on 69 minutes before Abdullah Al Junaibi put Al Wasl back in front six minutes later, only for Makhete Diop to salvage a point on 89 minutes.
Elsewhere, bottom side Sharjah drew 1-1 at home to fellow cup idlers Al Wahda, when Sebastian Tagliabue erased Jamal Hussain’s half hour opener with his equaliser on 86 minutes.
Only the top two sides in each group qualify for the semi-finals. The next round of group fixtures will be on December 14-15.
