UAE Pro League: Stalemates at the top as Shabab Al-Ahli maintain lead

DUBAI: Spoils were shared in contrasting meetings when the ADNOC Pro League’s top four all clashed, and fallen giants Al-Nasr recorded a vital victory in their shock fight against relegation.

Saturday’s helter-skelter matchweek 14 finale witnessed Al-Wahda and Al-Wasl play out a thrilling 3-3 draw, settled in the final throes by UAE veteran Sebastian Tagliabue’s penalty for the hosts.

A more mundane affair had played out in Friday’s goalless summit meeting between second-placed Sharjah and leaders Shabab Al-Ahli Dubai Club.

At the opposite end of the table, Morocco playmaker Adel Taarabt headed home the only goal when third-bottom Al-Nasr beat second-bottom Al-Dhafra to open up a four-point buffer to safety.

Gaston Alvarez’s wonder strike earned a 2-1 triumph for the 10-men of Baniyas at a sodden Khor Fakkan; Ittihad Kalba — who had Abdulaziz Al-Hamhami dismissed — collapsed to a 2-2 draw versus promoted Al-Bataeh courtesy of two late spot-kicks; and Al-Jazira icon Ali Mabkhout converted from 12 yards as they edged bottom-placed Dibba Al-Fujairah 1-0.

Inconsistent holders Al-Ain exhibited the imperious form of old in their 5-1 dismantling of Ajman, fuelled by braces from Ukraine maestro Andriy Yarmolenko and unstoppable Togo striker Kodjo Fo-Doh Laba.

Here are Arab News’ top picks and a talking point from the latest action.

Player of the Week — Fabio De Lima (Al-Wasl)

A big performance, in a big match, from the peerless Fabio De Lima.

The UAE forward produced a pair of equalizers to make it 2-2 in Abu Dhabi. A scruffy first was indebted to a generous deflection off Al-Wahda goalkeeper Mohamed Al-Shamsi’s legs, but his athletic jump and precise header for the second spoke of innate ability.

He then teed up