Shabab Al Ahli claimed the UAE 2022/23 Adnoc Pro League title with one round to spare, ending their six-year championship drought since the merger in 2017.
The Dubai-based club sealed their victory with a hard-fought 2-1 away win against Baniyas.
This triumph left both last season’s champions, Al Ain, and Al Wahda in second and third place trailing three points behind, but their head-to-head records against the newly crowned champions were not enough to close the gap.
โค๏ธ๐Number 1 .. the Champions โ pic.twitter.com/vhKg17RfQ3
— Shabab AlAhli – EN (@ShababAlAhli_EN) May 8, 2023
The match against Baniyas proved to be a challenging encounter for Shabab Al Ahli, as they fell behind 1-0 after Sasa Ivkovic scored for the hosts just after the hour mark.
However, the tide quickly turned in favor of the visitors, as they showcased their resilience by scoring two goals in the span of three minutes. Azizjon Ganiev’s deflected effort leveled the score, and Yahya Al Ghassani sealed the crucial victory with a brilliant finish when they needed it the most.
Following the final whistle, Coach Leonardo Jardim was tossed into the air by his players and staff. The former Monaco coach, who guided Saudi Arabia’s Al Hilal to AFC 2021 Champions League success, took charge of Shabab Al Ahli last summer.
While Shabab Al Ahli has already secured the league title, there is still fierce competition for the top scorer and assist provider of the UAE Pro League.
Kojdo Laba from Al Ain and Ali Makboot from Al Jazira Club are currently tied at 26 goals each, showcasing their impressive goal-scoring prowess.
Meanwhile, Soufian Rahimi of Al Ain and Ben Alarbi of Ajman Club cannot be split with 11 assists apiece, battling it out for the season’s assist title.
These players will be determined to add to their respective goals and assist tallies in order to claim individual accolades.
The final round of the UAE ADNOC Pro League season 2022/2023 is set to take place from May 11th to May 13th.
On Saturday, May 13th, Shabab Al Ahli will host Ajman in their final match of the Adnoc Pro League season. The anticipation is high, as a large number of home supporters are expected to fill the stadium, eager to witness their players lifting the championship trophy.
It promises to be an exciting event as the team bids farewell to the season in front of their passionate fans as the campaign draws to a close.
Football fans across the country eagerly await the thrilling matches that will determine the final standings and honor the league’s top performers.
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