Al Ain stunned by Shabab Al Ahli as historic 38-game unbeaten run comes to an end
Vladimir Ivic said he was proud of Al Ain's record UAE Pro League 38-game unbeaten run but was highly critical of his side's defending after a 2-0 loss to title rivals Shabab Al Ahli saw them beaten for the first time in 19 months. Al Ain had not tasted a league defeat since a 3-2 loss to Dibba on March 29, 2025, some 567 days before Saturday's setback. In that time, Ivic had led the team through…
Vladimir Ivic expressed pride in Al Ain's record 38-game unbeaten run in the UAE Pro League but criticized the team's defending after a 2-0 loss to title rivals Shabab Al Ahli. This marked the first time since March 2025 that Al Ain suffered a league defeat. The team had been dominant throughout their unbeaten season, not conceding a goal in 32 matches.
However, Shabab Al Ahli broke through with goals from Sardar Azmoun and Kauan Santos, taking the lead in the UAE Pro League. Ivic acknowledged Shabab Al Ahli's success, noting that the difference between the teams was their 10 chances created but only one goal scored. He took full responsibility for the loss and urged his players to move on quickly, emphasizing that they would face Shabab Al Ahli again in the President's Cup.
Shabab Al Ahli's manager, Andre Jardine, highlighted the significance of the victory, considering it worth six points due to the direct clash against a strong rival for the title.
Written by urgent.news from The National Business's reporting — not their text. Machine-written — may contain errors; check the original before relying on it.
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