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Abu Dhabi: Leaders Al Shabab and second-placed Al Jazira had their respective band of supporters on tenterhooks as they left it late before winning their penultimate fixtures on Friday in the etisalat First Division Football League.
Hosts Al Shabab, who took a 43rd minute lead in their Dubai derby against Al Wasl, were always under pressure until they got their second 13 minutes from the final whistle. With a two-goal cushion, Al Shabab who now go into the final round with a three-point lead over Al Jazira, then scored two more in the dying minutes to finally end up 4-0 winners.
Adel Abdullah, Eisa Obaid, Salem Sa'ad and Naser Yousef got Al Shabab's goals who now need only a draw to lift their third League title after a 12-year break.
Al Jazira were also involved in an Abu Dhabi derby played in Al Dhafra and the latter stunned them with a third minute goal by the consistent Mohammad Salem.
Play-off
But Saleh Obaid equalised in the 34th minute and Tony gave them the much-needed lead in the 51st minute.
But Al Dhafra dealt their more fancied rivals a big blow when Idrisso equalised in the 70th minute.
A draw would have meant the end to Jazira's hopes of their first ever League triumph and the title for Al Shabab.
But Mamadou Diallo scored one of the most important goals for his team with 11 minutes left and Al Jazira live to try and beat Al Shabab at home on Wednesday and force a play-off.
In another Dubai derby, President's Cup winners Al Ahli went on the rampage against city rivals Al Nasr scoring five times without reply.
Starting with a 20th minute goal from Milad Midawdi, Ahli scored at regular intervals through Faisal Khalil, Marcos dos Santos Assuncao (2) and Clederson Cesar.
Away from the battle for the title, former champions Al Wahda and Al Ain were involved in a thrilling Abu Dhabi Derby at the Al Nahyan Stadium. The traditional rivals were locked in a terrific tussle for supremacy with the visitors taking the lead but Al Wahda came back strongly to make it 2-1 early in the second half.
After that Al Ain levelled the scores twice to make it 3-3 before Al Wahda pulled it off with a brilliant free-kick from Pinga.
The win added a bit of pride to the Wahda squad and lifted them to mid table after one of the most horrific displays in the league by last year's AFC Champions League semifinalists.
Hatta went down 1-2 to Al Shaab while Emirates, who accompany Hatta to the Second Division, shared four goals with Sharjah.
Standings
Team P W L D F A Pts
1. Shabab 21 12 5 4 44 30 41
2. Jazira 21 11 5 5 46 31 38
3. Al Ahli 21 10 7 4 46 25 37
4.Sharjah 21 9 6 6 33 30 33
5. Al Ain 21 9 5 7 40 34 32
6. Shaab 21 8 6 7 37 43 30
7. Wahda 21 7 6 8 40 41 27
8. Al Wasl 21 7 6 8 34 35 27
9. Al Nasr 21 6 7 8 36 39 25
10. Dhafra 21 7 4 10 33 39 25
11. Emirate 21 3 7 11 36 53 16
12. Hatta 21 3 4 14 21 46 13
Results
Played on Friday:
Al Shabab 4 Al Wasl 0
Al Dhafra 2 Al Jazira 3
Al Nasr 0 Al Ahli 5
Al Wahda 4 Al Ain 3
Emirate 2 Sharjah 2
Al Shaab 2 Hatta 1
update
Key clash on may 21
The UAE Football Association have advanced the key clash between Al Shabab and Al Jazira from May 25 to May 21. Al Shabab on 41 points travel to Al Jazira on 38 points and the FA decided to bring the game forward in case both sides finish with equal points. If Al Jazira win the two teams will be level on 41 points and then they will play the play-off on May 25 to decide the 2007-08 First Division League championship. The match will be played at 7.40pm and the remaining five matches will be played at the same time on May 25.
-By M. Satya Narayan
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