Al Ain FC has announced the departure of head coach Hernan Crespo, who led the team to an AFC Champions League title last year. The decision follows a poor start to the current league season and the AFC Champions League Elite competition. Al Ain currently holds 8th place in the UAE Pro League standings with just 8 points and sits at the bottom of Group B in the AFC Champions League Elite stage. The club will begin its search for a new head coach in the coming days.
ADNOC Pro League: Match week 7 Highlights
Match week 7 of the ADNOC Pro League delivered thrilling performances across the board. Here are the standout results:
Baniyas vs. Sharjah
Sharjah returned to form with an emphatic 4-1 victory over Baniyas. Guilherme Sucigan opened the scoring in the 12th minute, only for Mats Johan to equalize with a header in the 22nd. However, Sharjah regained control with Luan Pereira converting a penalty just before halftime. Tyrone Conraad and David Petrovic sealed the win with late goals in the 81st minute and stoppage time, respectively. Sharjah now sits in second place with 18 points, while Baniyas languishes in 10th with seven points.
Al Wasl vs. Al Jazira
In what was arguably the game of the week, Al Wasl and Al Jazira played to a thrilling 2-2 draw. Vinicius Mello put Al Jazira ahead in the 7th minute, but Haris Seferovic capitalized on a defensive error to equalize just five minutes later. Al Wasl took the lead early in the second half, courtesy of a goal in the 51st minute, but Ramon Mierez’s spectacular strike in the 82nd minute levelled the score. The match ended on a sour note for Al Jazira, as Vinicius Mello received a straight red card in the final moments.
Kalba vs. Al Orooba
Kalba cruised to a 3-0 win over Al Orooba, with Leandro Spadacio scoring early in the 8th minute and Daniel Bessa adding two second-half goals. The victory propels Kalba to 6th place with 10 points, while Al Orooba remains second-to-last with just three points.
Al Nasr vs. Al Wahda
Both teams played out a goalless draw, a result that keeps Al Wahda in 3rd place with 14 points. Al Nasr, meanwhile, holds 5th place with 13 points.
Khorfakkan vs. Dibba Al-Hisn
Khorfakkan and Dibba Al-Hisn delivered a closely contested 1-1 draw at Saqr Bin Mohammed Al Qassimi Stadium. Niksa Vujanovic gave Dibba Al-Hisn the lead in the 24th minute, but Abdulrahman Yousuf equalized in the 84th minute, salvaging a point for Khorfakkan.
Ajman vs. Al Bataeh
Junior Flemmings starred for Ajman, scoring a goal in each half to secure a vital 3-1 win against Al Bataeh. While Al Bataeh managed to score, their efforts fell short. The win lifts Ajman to 9th place with 7 points, while Al Bataeh remains in 12th with 4 points.
Match week 7 showcased the competitive spirit of the ADNOC Pro League, with dramatic matches and impressive individual performances across the board.
Standings
The Playbook powered by Genius Sports data will have regular updates of the ADNOC UAE Pro League throughout the 2024/25 season.
