AGL Picks of the Week: Dia Saba does Hakim Ziyech impression, stacking up Marcel Keizer statistics

Sharjah and Al Nasr set course for a titanic clash when the international break is over after impressive wins were recorded in Arabian Gulf League match-week five.

Igor Coronado’s calm penalty on Saturday earned the former-mentioned 2018/19 champions a 1-0 win at Al Jazira, extending the division’s only 100-per-cent start. UAE centre forward Sebastian Tagliabue’s sublime touch and finish from Israel playmaker Dia Saba’s glittering assist then provided the highlight of Nasr’s 3-0 victory at bottom-placed Hatta, setting the stage for November 20’s showdown.

DR Congo winger Paul-Jose M’Poku got the deciding goal in Al Wahda’s hectic 3-2 victory against Al Wasl, Al Ain scored three times in the final throes to earn a much-needed 4-1 triumph against Al Dhafra and 2019/20 pacesetters Shabab Al Ahli Dubai Club let a two-goal lead slide in their surprise draw at 13^th-placed Khor Fakkan. Swiss attacking midfielder Davide Mariani’s thumping effort condemned Fujairah to a 1-0 defeat at Ittihad Kalba and Bani Yas’ slide continued during a goalless stalemate with Ajman.

Here are three standout performers and a talking point:

PLAYER OF THE WEEK

Kodjo Fo-Doh Laba (Al Ain)

How Pedro Emanuel needed this late show.

The Boss’ worst start in 13 years appeared set to continue when his troops failed to build on Laba’s 27^th-minute leveller from the penalty spot. Action was required to lift the gloom descending on Hazza bin Zayed Stadium…

Laba’s flick from a corner would be headed in by Japan defender Tsukasa Shiotani on 89 minutes, earning a belated lead. The Togo international would then poke home from a 96^th-minute scramble to complete the scoring, after ‘super-sub’ Fahad Hadeed pounced again.

That’s now 22 goals and five assists in 22 top-flight run-outs for Laba. He is utterly intrinsic to the 13-time-champions’ hopes.

GOAL OF THE WEEK

Sebastian Tagliabue (Al Nasr)

The best goals are exhibitions of genius.

Nasr’s opener at Hatta fitted into this rarefied category.

Nothing seemed on when Saba gained possession on the right. But a check inside and quick look earned a glimpse of Tagliabue’s wily run between the centre-backs.

Consummate execution then arrowed an in-swinging ball – think Hakim Ziyech at his finest – 25 yards onto Tagliabue’s left boot, with one touch and an immediate right-footed finish sending a low shot past the stunned Ahmed Dida. It doesn’t get much better than this.

COACH OF THE WEEK

Caio Zanardi (Khor Fakkan)

Whichever way you analyse this performance, Zanardi excels.

The Brazilian’s powers of inspiration witnessed then-bottom Khor Fakkan claw back a 2-0 disadvantage versus star-studded opponents. But dig deeper and this result is made even-more respectable.

The hosts pressed like wild animals, picking up five yellow cards from 21 fouls – a necessity to break-up Shabab Al Ahli’s rhythm. The visitors,also only just edged possession (54 per cent/44 per cent) and Khor Fakkan produced more attempts on target (eight from 17 v five from 22).

Spirited strugglers didn’t just sit back and hope for the best. They backed themselves and gained requisite reward.

TALKING POINT

Frustration grows about Keizer’s stalled return – but is it fair?

A maddening start to 2020/21 continued for Jazira this weekend.

Fresh from bursting Bani Yas’ bubble in emphatic fashion, a stranglehold would be placed on leaders Sharjah at Mohammed bin Zayed Stadium. But in typical fashion, for both sides, it would be the granite visitors who’d eke out a win from only 33-per-cent possession courtesy of Coronado’s spot-kick.

For a third time in five AGL matches, points drained away for the Pride of Abu Dhabi.

Residual frustration has grown about Keizer’s return. Particularly when contrasted to the lasting emotions tied to his ‘golden’ 13-game spell in charge from June 2018 until October 2018’s defection to Sporting Lisbon.

A rundown of the statistics, however, points to remarkable continuity between these separate periods. The win percentage, across all competitions, of 53.9 from his opening attachment is similar to the current 51.7.

Keizer has also been hamstrung second time around by 2019/20’s inadequate selection of foreigners and 2020/21’s decision not to fill the entire quartet.

Yet the Pride of Abu Dhabi were third when play was halted in March and are in touching distance of the top three this time in seventh. A comparison of 2019/20 – Keizer was at the helm for all but three games of the 19 played – and 2020/21 on Wyscout shows that they’ve even increased their average possession (58.4 per cent/61.5 per cent) and passes per 90 minutes (494.7/507.7).

Ample evidence of solid foundations being laid by a club who desire consistency across the board, with director of football Mads Davidsen in situ.

Jazira might not have enough to reach the AGL’s summit. But this won’t be for want of trying by the Ajax-schooled Keizer.

MATCH-WEEK FIVE RESULTS

Saturday

Al Ain 4-1 Al Dhafra

Ajman 0-0 Bani Yas

Al Jazira 0-1 Sharjah

Sunday

Khor Fakkan 2-2 Shabab Al Ahli Dubai Club

Hatta 0-3 Al Nasr

Al Wahda 3-2 Al Wasl

Ittihad Kalba 1-0 Fujairah