It was party time at Rashid Stadium for Al Ahli. Without kicking a ball, a seventh Arabian Gulf League title had been earned courtesy of second-placed Al Ain’s slip-up at Fujairah on Thursday.
But a post-match explosion from coach Cosmin Olaroiu has threatened all this serenity. Infuriated about anchorman Khamis Esmail’s red card for two rapid-fire bookings and an apparent elbow on winger Ismail Al Hammadi, his sending off at the death from referee Ahmed Salim Khalfan caused him to cast doubts about his future.
The Romanian’s newly-crowned champions were not at their rapier best last night against Bani Yas. An unassailable lead already secured with two games to spare and thoughts of next Sunday’s gleeful trophy presentation saw to that.
Bani Yas claimed a 2-2 draw at the new champions.
Not even Brazil playmaker Everton Ribeiro’s double could guarantee a 21st win of a dominant campaign. UAE midfielder Amer Abdulrahman and Algeria front man Ishak Belfodil’s goals for the mid-table visitors pegged them back.
The ceremonial passing of flora had neutered the hosts prior to the start, a punishing four shots in the first three minutes then being fired in as Ahli began in a daze.
There would be no recourse for UAE No1 Majed Nasser on 14 minutes. An ingenious chip from international colleague Abdulrahman bounced in off the post for just a second top-flight strike this term.
The opener awoke Ahli from their slumber. The leveller just before the break came from Ribeiro’s tap in after Al Hammadi’s slaloming run ended with a shot against the post.
Within seconds of the restart, the lead was theirs. Ribeiro guided a shot from the edge of the box into the metre of unprotected space at Mohsin Mohamed’s near post for an eighth goal this season.
Royston Drenthe’s clumsy push on Ciel inside the penalty box should then have created daylight, only for the Brazilian to shoot wide from the spot.
Esmail’s dismissal for tug backs on Bandar Al Ahbabi and Joaquin Larrivey during the same breakway followed, before Belfodil used his giant frame to power in a leveller from a corner.
An elbow from Abdulrahman on Al Hammadi then caused Olaroiu to detonate and add lashings of intrigue ahead of next week’s coronation against Al Shaab.