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Abu Dhabi: Leaders Al Shabab, playing with ten men for the last 30 minutes, dropped two points with a 2-2 draw against hosts Al Wahda while fourth-placed Al Shaab lost 0-1 to Al Dhafra to miss a great chance of moving into second place.
All eyes were on the Al Wahda-Al Shabab match, one team battling in the relegation zone while the visiting Dubai team at the helm. However, Al Wahda almost totally dominated the leaders and saw luck desert them at crucial moments before they clawed their way back with an injury time goal.
The draw leaves Al Shabab still leading with 33 points from 17 games while Al Wahda are third from the bottom with 14 points from 16 games.
Positive note
In Sharjah, Al Shaab lost to a Mohammad Salem goal and that result gives newcomers Al Dhafra a safe look with 21 points from 17 games while Shaab remain on 26 from 16.
Al Wahda, who have a AFC Champions League engagement on Wednesday, rested Esmail Matar and Haider Allo Ali, while Al Shabab rested their star striker Salem Saad.
However, Al Wahda started on a very positive note and were in fact unlucky as the posts came in their way a few times while the a 90th minute penalty goal they conceded seemed to be the result of a rather harsh decision. But Al Wahda, with just the injury time left to salvage some prestige, struck through their Brazilian Pinga and the goal helped them split points and lift their morale.
In fact it was Pinga who was denied a goal almost four times by Al Shabab keeper Esmail Rabea while the crossbar came in the way of a brilliant free-kick by the Brazilian.
Al Shabab went for the break with the lead, thanks to a classy strike by Javad Al Kazeiman in the 44th minute.
Taufeeq Abdul Razack equalised for Al Wahda in the 49th minute and after Waleed Abbas was red-carded in the 58th minute it was Al Wahda all the way. Al Shabab brought in Salem Saad and slowly they also began to see more of the rival goal and a hot contest was on.
An Abdul Rahim Juma shot was saved by Rabea who also did well to collect a good drive from Esmail Matar.
The home crowd where stunned when Mohammad Omar pointed to the spot after and Imam Mobali sent Rabea the wrong way and the 2-1 lead came in the 90th minute.
Then in a last ditch attempt, Pinga found his first shot blocked but he slotted the rebound and the Al Wahda supporters breathed a sigh of relief.
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