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Bani Yas win to stay in title hunt

Bani Yas cruised to a crucial 3-1 away victory over hosts Al Shaab to stay in hunt for the title as Al Wahda claimed full points after edging Dubai 3-0 at Al Aweer Stadium here on Friday evening.

Eisa Ahmed put Al Wahda into the lead in the fourth minute, and a brace by Papa Waigo in the 28^th and 63^rd made it 3-0 in the almost one-sided game.

Nawaf Mubarak fired home the first goal for Bani Yas from a free kick in the 37^th minute of the first half and Al Shaab defender Ali Rabee scored by mistake in own goal to double the scoreline in the 41^st minute. Hassan Matouk reduced the deficit for Al Shaab from the spot in the 45^th minute. And despite Al Shaab’s best efforts in attack registering double the amount of shots than Bani Yas, the third-placed side showed the home team what a touch of class and clinical finishing can do. A header back in the box from captain Yousef Jaber was hit on the volley by January signing Christian Wilhelmsson; a sweet strike from the Swede to put his side 3-1 up in the 73^rd minute, with his first goal in the Etisalat Pro League.

Al Shaab continued to dig in and fight hard to make a comeback for the remainder of the game, but they paid the price for their missed chances and the match finished in a 3-1 win to Bani Yas

Following the shock 0-1 home defeat of pace setters Al in at the hands of promoted Dibba Al Fujairah, the door was kept wide open for both Al Jazira and Bani Yas to improve and close the gap to six points with ten rounds remaining.

Interestingly, Al Jazira travel to Al Ain City on March 2, to line up against Al Jazira at the Mohammed bin Tahnoon Stadium in the 17^th round of the competition. And a win by Al Jazira, will reduce the difference into three points. Bani Yas face Dibba Al Fujairah in the Eastern coast in a presumably tough encounter.