Thu, 28 Oct, 2021
Dubai: Al Shabab sent out an emphatic message to AFC Champions League 2012 playoff rivals Neftchi with a 5-1 hammering of Emirates in their UAE Pro League round 8 clash on Thursday.
Sroor Salem set Al Shabab on the road to victory when he opened the scoring three minutes from the interval and although Moroccan midfielder Mouhssine Moutouli levelled from the penalty spot ten minutes after the restart, the visitors scored four more without reply to move up to third in the current UPL standings.
Chile international Carlos Vilanueva made it 2-1 in the 63rd minute before Nasser Masoud extended the lead five minutes later and netted his second and Al Shabab's fifth with six minutes remaining after Rashid Hassan got his name on the score sheet with number four in the 75th minute.
Al Shabab will host Uzbekistan's Neftchi on February 18 with the winners of the one-leg playoff booking their place in Group D of the 2012 AFC Champions League.