Shabab Al Ahli moved five points clear at the top of the ADNOC Pro League table after securing a comfortable 3-1 win over Khorfakkan at Rashid Stadium in matchweek 20 on Friday.
Shabab Al Ahli took an early lead in the 17th minute when Azizjon Ganiev sent an excellent cross to Omar Khribin inside the box, as the latter used his first touch to smack a right-footed shot toward the far post of the goal.
The hosts had a golden opportunity in the 28th minute to double the lead when Federico Cartabia came close to adding the second goal with a deflected shot, but he saw his effort hit the crossbar.
The momentum was with Shabab Al Al Ahli, and it was no surprise when they extended their lead in the 45th minute from a penalty spot as Cartabia made no mistake from the spot, burying the ball in the corner.
The visitors refused to give up, as Khorfakkan got what they wanted in the 76th minute when Shabab Al Ahli's defense failed to properly clear the ball, and it fell to Raphael Guimaraes who fired a powerful strike into the top corner of the net, to make it 2-1.
Eight minutes before the time, Salmin Khamis Salmin sealed the victory for his side when Khorfakkan's defender Abdulrahman Yousuf failed to properly clear the ball from a corner as the Emirati defender fired a powerful strike from close range into the back of the net.
The victory means that Shabab Al Ahli go at the top of the ADNOC Pro League's table with 45 points, while Khorfakkan remain ninth with 21 points
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