Moussa Sow proved the hero as his brace helped Al Ahli to a 2-1 victory at Emirates Club on Wednesday night.
The Senegalese international was a menacing presence for the Red Knights and his two goals put Cosmin Olaroiu’s side within four points of AGL leaders Al Ain with a game in hand.
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Al Ahli have won 10 out of their 12 games but had to come from behind to bank this latest maximum return.
Despite the scoreline, the game never lacked ferocity and was exciting and intense throughout.
The visitors could have been ahead as early as the opening minute but Sow could not direct his header goalwards after Abdulaziz Haikal’s right-flank delivery.
They continued to gather momentum and a cleverly-weighed pass from Everton Ribeiro allowed Abdulaziz Sanqour to unleash a powerful strike from distance but it was saved by keeper Ali Saqr.
After absorbing some early pressure, Emirates took the lead with 23 minutes gone.
A mistimed header by Salmeen Khamis allowed home striker Rodrigo to flick the ball on to Brett Holman who drove a spectacular effort past Majed Naser from 15-yards out.
But just when it looked like Emirates might double their advantage, Al Ahli equalised against the run of play.
Mohamed Malalla thumped a header off the crossbar and Al Ahli went straight up the field to score. Khamis’ effort was initially blocked by Saqr but Sow was on hand to tuck away the rebound from close range. Within a minute of the
restart, it got even better for Ahli as they took the lead. Ismail Al Hammadi collected the ball on halfway and came marauding down the left to feed Ribeiro. The Brazilian’s left-footed shot was stopped by Saqr and Ahli’s Dh81m record buy Sow reacted quickest to slot home from three yards out.
Holman had a chance to pull back an equalizer after 60 minutes but his effort from an acute angle drifted wide.
Sow could have completed his hat-trick late on but substitute keeper Ahmed Al Shaji denied him.