Al Ain secured a dramatic 3–2 victory over Shabab Al Ahli Club in a pulsating top-of-the-table clash, with El Houssien Rahimi coming off the bench to deliver the decisive late winner.
The hosts started brightly and nearly took an early lead inside seven minutes when Laba Kodjo attempted an audacious backheel following a pinpoint delivery from Soufiane Rahimi, but his effort drifted just wide.
Shabab Al Ahli responded soon after, with Bala testing his luck from range in the 13th minute, though his strike narrowly missed the target.
The game quickly opened up, and chances followed at both ends. Abdulkarim Trawri was played through on goal in the 15th minute, only to be denied by a sharp save from goalkeeper Hamad Al Meqbaali.
Al Ain continued to push, and Amadou Niang came close in the 26th minute, but once again Al Meqbaali stood firm to keep the scores level.
The breakthrough finally arrived just before the interval. In the 44th minute, Rami Rabiea reacted quickest inside the box, cleverly redirecting Trawri’s effort with a backheeled finish to give Al Ain a deserved lead heading into halftime.
The second half burst into life almost instantly. Within seconds of the restart, Shabab Al Ahli were level as Bala surged down the left flank and delivered a precise cross for Yuri César, who finished clinically from close range.
Al Ain responded with intent and regained the lead before the hour mark. Matías Palacios provided an inviting cross that was met powerfully by Laba Kodjo, whose header left the goalkeeper with no chance.
But the visitors refused to back down. In the 67th minute, Yuri César struck again, this time from a free kick that took a slight deflection, wrong-footing Khalid Eisa and restoring parity at 2–2.
With the match finely poised, both sides pushed for a winner in a gripping finale. It was Al Ain who found the decisive moment. Three minutes from time, substitute El Houssien Rahimi timed his run to perfection and coolly slotted home to seal a crucial victory.
The result sees Al Ain maintain their place at the top of the table with 56 points, extending their advantage over second-placed Shabab Al Ahli, who remain on 52 points after a fiercely contested encounter.
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