Joao Pedro netted twice as Al Wahda edged out Ajman 3-2 in a dramatic and fluctuating game in matchweek 25 at Rashid bin Saeed Stadium, keeping alive the team's ADNOC Pro League title hopes.
With only a match remaining this season, Al Wahda remain second in the league having played a game more than their rivals.
Al Wahda will be hoping for Shabab Al Ahli and Al Ain to stumble during tomorrow's encounters to get a chance to replace them at the top.
The hosts took an early lead in the 9th minute when they were awarded a penalty kick after Waleed Azaro was brought down inside the box by Al Wahda's goalkeeper Mohamed Alshamsi, prompting the referee to point to the spot. Ali Madan stepped up and sent the goalkeeper the wrong way, to make it 1-0.
Joao Pedro leveled the scoring for Al Wahda in the 26th minute when he was teed up by Allan Marques as the former brilliantly dribbled Ajman's defense inside the box and curled a right-footed effort into the left bottom corner of the net, to make it 1-1.
In the 36th minute, the Brazilian forward completed his brace and cemented his side's lead from a penalty spot as Pedro made no mistake from the spot, burying the ball in the corner.
The momentum was with Al Wahda. It was no surprise when they extended their lead when Joao Pedro turned from a scorer to a provider after setting up Adrien Da Silva outside, allowing to latter to smash a superb long-range strike to seal the victory for the visitors in the 47th minute.
Seven minutes after the hour-mark, M. Ben Alarbi reduced the deficit for Ajman when he unleashed a superb free-kick that curled around the Al Wahda wall as it flashed into the top corner past goalkeeper Mohamed Alshamsi.
The hosts suffered another blow in the 80th minute when they had to play at least ten minutes with ten players after Miral Samardzic was shown a straight red card for a reckless foul on Joao Pedro.
The result means Al Wahda sit second with 51 points, while Ajman are fourth with 44 points.
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