Shabab Al Ahli rescued a dramatic 3–3 draw against Khorfakkan at Rashid Stadium in matchweek 23 of the ADNOC Pro League, striking deep into stoppage time to deny the visitors a famous win.
The result still handed momentum to Al Ain at the top, stretching the gap to six points. Shabab Al Ahli move to 53 points in second, while Khorfakkan sit eighth on 25 points after a spirited display.
Yuri Cesar set the tone early, firing Shabab Al Ahli ahead inside 14 minutes with a crisp first time volley into the bottom corner, a finish that gave the visitors early control.
Khorfakkan responded with intent, and Aylton Filipe restored parity on 34 minutes with an instinctive backward finish to bring his side level.
Momentum swung moments later as Lourency Do delivered a dangerous corner that was inadvertently turned into his own net by Mateus Lima, completing a rapid turnaround.
Shabab Al Ahli hit back immediately after the restart, with Yuri Cesar grabbing his second of the night. Rising to meet a pinpoint cross from Mersad Seifi, he powered home a precise header to level the score just three minutes into the second half.
Khorfakkan looked set to claim all three points when Ahmed Abdalla Mohamad restored their lead a minute before the hour mark, calmly slotting into the bottom corner to cap another shift in momentum.
But the drama was not over. In the sixth minute of stoppage time, Khalil Azmoum rose highest to meet a delivery and thunder a powerful header into the net, snatching a late equaliser for Shabab Al Ahli and ensuring the points were shared in a breathless encounter.
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