Al Ain recover late as the new Pro League season begins

Al Ain were still behind with ten minutes of normal time remaining in their opening league match. Youssoufou Niakate’s two goals had given Bani Yas a lead worth protecting, and the champions had already seen more than one effort ruled out. By the final whistle, however, Al Ain had scored four times, two of them deep in added time, to begin their title defence with three points.

The recovery started earlier than the dramatic finish might suggest. After Niakate scored in the fifteenth and 42nd minutes, Soufiane Rahimi converted a penalty in first half added time. Al Ain therefore reached the interval only one goal behind, with an immediate route back into the match. The finish did not erase the difficulties of the opening half, but it prevented Bani Yas from carrying the full benefit of their two goals into the break.

El Houssien Rahimi then supplied the decisive second half contributions. He had a headed effort disallowed after coming on, before scoring the equaliser in the 81st minute. Bani Yas had by then been reduced to ten men following Nemanja Djekovic’s dismissal. The hosts were trying to protect an increasingly fragile position, while Al Ain kept looking for the chance that would turn a recovered point into a win.

It arrived in the seventh minute of added time, when El Houssien scored again. Kaku added another three minutes later, leaving the final margin much more comfortable than most of the evening had been. The brothers had provided the route back and the lead; the last goal secured it. For Al Ain, the result extended the confidence of an unbeaten title season without offering any reason to be satisfied with the way this match had begun.

The late surge was not confined to the champions. Shabab Al Ahli trailed Khorfakkan at half time on Saturday after Aylton Filipe’s opener, then scored five after the break. Saeid Ezatolahi brought them level before the hour and later converted a penalty to put them ahead. The match was still close enough for Yuri Cesar’s earlier missed penalty to matter, until three more goals transformed the closing stages.

Cesar made amends by scoring, with Sardar Azmoun and Rikelme also finding the net. Khorfakkan had resisted for much of the game and lost their starting goalkeeper to injury in the second half. Their replacement saved the first penalty but could not prevent the eventual rush of goals. The result rewarded Shabab Al Ahli’s persistence, although the score alone would give a misleading impression of how easily they reached it.

Al Wasl produced a similar finish against top flight newcomers United. Renato Junior scored inside three minutes, but United equalised and reached the interval level on their first appearance in the competition. An own goal restored Al Wasl’s advantage after the hour, and the contest remained within United’s reach until the 87th minute. Sergio Pereira then scored twice around an Ali Saleh goal, turning a narrow lead into a win by four goals.

That distinction is important for the promoted side. United spent most of the evening competing for a result, then conceded three times near the end. The final score identifies the size of the defeat, but the timing tells the coaches where much of the damage occurred. Maintaining the same level through the last part of a match will be among the lessons they take from the debut.

Sharjah also left their opening trip with a win, beating Al Dhafra by three goals to one. Luan Martins gave them the lead, Dominic Mendy equalised for the hosts and Julimar restored Sharjah’s advantage before a late third settled the game. Al Dhafra had opportunities of their own, including goals that did not stand. Sharjah’s result was secure only after another match had moved through a more competitive middle than its final margin might imply.

Friday had supplied a recovery of a different kind at Al Maktoum Stadium. Al Nasr fell two behind Kalba inside twenty minutes, with Nemanja Jovic scoring before Saman Ghoddos converted a penalty. Abdoulaye Toure’s header and a Chris Bedia penalty brought the hosts back to level terms in the second half. They could not turn the comeback into a win, but avoided starting the season with a defeat after a difficult opening.

Ajman did secure an away victory, beating Al Wahda in a match with five goals. An early strike from Lourency and two from Victor Henrique gave the visitors an encouraging start, while Al Wahda were left with defensive work to address. Al Jazira completed the round by scoring twice without reply at Hatta, with Simon Banza opening the scoring in first half added time and the second arriving late.

Across the seven fixtures, the opening round produced 33 goals and several changes of direction. The stronger finish often mattered as much as the stronger start. Al Ain supplied the most dramatic example, recovering from two behind and waiting until added time to take the lead. The champions will welcome the points and the contribution of their substitutes. They will also know that repeating the second half is a much better plan than needing another rescue.