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Dubai: The etisalat First Division Football League enters its concluding phase from Monday.
The three remaining stages will help decide the champions and also the ones to be relegated.
Al Shabab, Al Ahli, Al Jazira and Sharjah are in the title hunt, while Emirates and Hatta languish at the bottom of the table. These two clubs, in fact, are heading back to the Second Division.
The UAE league has turned out to be free from any match-fixing scourge. This has been affirmed by the 3-3 scoreline of the Al Ahli-Al Wasl match.
Al Ahli were in need of three points to top the standings and the match was of no significance for Al Wasl, who were at the middle of the table. Rumours were rife that Al Wasl would gift the match to Al Ahli.
However, Al Wasl, playing without their two Brazilian strikers - Oliviera and Diaz - proved they had too big a reputation to gift three points to Al Ahli.
Al Wasl fought hard even when they were down 2-0, levelled the scores and finally managed to snatch a point from Al Ahli and scotch all rumours.
With Al Ahli losing two valuable points, the league title hunt is now wide open, with the 20th stage starting on Monday.
Not too bothered
Al Shabab have been on top of the table for most of the season and are the top favourites to win the title. They are not too bothered by the challenge from Al Jazira or Sharjah, third and fourth, respectively, in the standings. But they are worried about neighbours Al Ahli who would be peering over their shoulders in the last three stages.
Al Ahli jumped to second place with 33 points after the draw against Al Wasl, with two points separating them from top-placed Al Shabab, who have 35 points.
Most of the soccer experts have claimed that Al Ahli will clinch the league title, to add to their President's Cup success. They counted heavily on the fact that Al Ahli would play all their three remaining matches in Dubai - against Emirates on Monday and Al Wahda on May 25, with the May 16 clash against Al Nasr at Al Maktoum Stadium being their only game away from home, though not away from Dubai.
Al Shabab were very happy with Al Wasl snatching a draw against Al Ahli and denying them the top place. However, Al Shabab's form in the second round was not as good as the one they had shown in the first. They lost several points, both at home and away. In the eight matches they have played in the second round so far, they have won only two, drawn four and lost two, bagging 10 points.
Al Shabab have failed to register a win in their last three matches and their remaining games will not be easy, with two of their matches against the title contenders. On Monday, they meet Sharjah in Sharjah. On May 16, they clash against Al Wasl at home and then play Al Jazira in their last match in Abu Dhabi on May 25.
Al Shabab have to win all their three remaining matches to win the league title. If Al Ahli win all their remaining matches and Al Shabab lose one, the title will go to Al Ahli. If Al Shabab win two matches and draw one and Al Ahli win all three, both teams will be equal on points and a playoff will then be needed to decide the champions.
Al Jazira's hopes of winning their first league title took a beating after losing to city rivals Al Wahda 2-1. Al Jazira have 32 points and their remaining matches are against Al Shaab at home on Monday, Al Dhafra away on May 16 and against Al Shabab on May 25. Al Jazira will have to win all three matches and hope Al Shabab, Al Ahli and Sharjah suffer defeats.
Fourth team
The fourth team in contention are Sharjah, who lost 3-1 to Al Ahli in the 19th stage. The defeat pushed them down to the fourth place, although they still have a chance. They need to win their remaining matches against Al Shabab at home, Emirates club in Ras Al Khaimah and Al Wasl in Dubai and then wait and watch how the other teams' fare.
The fate of the two relegated teams has been decided already, following Al Wahda's wins against Al Jazira and Al Shaab and the defeats of Hatta and Emirates.
After beating city rivals Al Jazira 2-1 and crushing Al Shaab 5-2, Al Wahda raised their tally to 21 points. They have three matches left: away to Hatta on Monday, at home against Al Ain on May 16 and against Al Ahli in Dubai on May 25.
Emirates, second from the bottom with 14 points, have three matches left: away at Al Ahli, against Sharjah at home and against Al Nasr at home. Emirates' task will be very difficult since they will be up against title hunters Al Ahli and Sharjah.
Hatta, at the bottom with 13 points, have three matches to go: against Al Wahda at home, away at Al Shaab and against Al Dhafra at home. Hatta, like Emirates, face a tough task and need a miracle to stay in the elite division.
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