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Dubai: President's Cup winners Al Ahli finished their First Division League campaign exactly the way they had started it - with a defeat.
Al Ahli lost to Al Wahda 2-1 in their last league match at Rashid Stadium on Sunday night. Al Ahli had lost their first league match last September to Al Shaab 2-1 at home. It had marked the beginning of a string of poor results which cost them the chance to win a double.
Al Ahli settled for the third place with 37 points, winning a berth in the Asian Champions League next year, along with three other UAE clubs - First Division League champions Al Shabab, runners-up Al Jazira and fourth-placed Sharjah.
Al Wahda's 2-1 win against Al Ahli showed the team had regained the fine form that had made them the league champions on two previous occasions.
Brazilian Pinga and Abdul Rahim Juma scored the goals with Iranian Miald Middawdi hitting one back for Al Ahli.
Regaining confidence
Al Wahda have suffered a lot in the current season. They were even threatened by relegation at some point of time. Egyptian Ahmad Abdul Halim, the caretaker coach, and manager Abdullah Saleh did a good job in lifting the players' morale and helping the team regain their confidence at the right time.
Al Wahda did not lose their last six league matches. They won four and drew two, which helped them escape relegation and finish 8th with 30 points.
Runners-up Al Jazira, meanwhile, lost crucial points in the second round. They lost six points, following defeats to Al Ain and Al Wahda.
Those six points could have crowned them champions for the first time in the club's history.
However, Al Jazira can take heart from the fact that they won the GCC clubs' title for the first time. They are the third UAE club to win the tournament after Al Shabab and Al Ain.
Defending champions Al Wasl, who won a double last season, failed to repeat their feat. They lost some key players who had contributed towards clinching the double - like Brazilian striker Anderson and midfielder Salah Abbas. Both returned to their earlier clubs, Sharjah and Al Nasr, respectively.
Al Wasl finished in the seventh place after crushing Sharjah 5-2 in their last league match on Sunday. They crashed out of the Asian Champions League from the first round after finishing third in Group B.
Al Dhafra, meanwhile, retained their berth in the top flight, after winning promotion last season.
Resounding victories
Al Dhafra proved they were a good team and could survive in the top flight, with resounding victories against more accomplished sides like Al Wahda, Al Wasl and Al Shaab.
The coming season, which will kick off in September, will require hard work from all clubs as it will mark the first season of professional league in the UAE.
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