Ghana striker Asamoah Gyan could lift the UAE league title today (Thursday) with his club Al Ain after Dubai finally agreed to bring their match forward by 24 hours.Â
The Garden City club, 13 points clear at the top of the table, had contacted their Round 22 opponents earlier this week to request the fixture change.
Given the points’ differential between the champions and Al Ahli, the division's second-placed side, victory would guarantee the trophy with four rounds to spare.
Dubai initially rejected the appeal, but it has since emerged the match at the Tahnoun bin Mohammed Stadium will take place tonight.
Al Ain asked for the postponement citing the need for an extra day’s preparation for next Tuesday's crucial Asian Champions League encounter against Al Hilal in Saudi Arabia.
The Tahnoun bin Mohammed Stadium has been elaborately decorated in anticipation of Al Ain sealing a second successive league title with Gyan leading the title charge.
It will be his second successive title having led the club to last season's top gong in the UAE league.
Al Ain could then focus on their quest for qualification to the last 16 of the Champions League:
Cosmin Olaroiu’s charges currently sit second in Group D, one point behind Iran’s Esteghlal with two matches remaining.
Tuesday’s match in Riyadh is therefore vital to those chances of progression, especially following last week’s results.