Togolese Laba Kodjo led his defending champions, Al Ain, to reduce the difference with Shabab Al Ahly leaders to 3 points, by scoring a double victory over its guest, Sharjah, 2-0, on Wednesday, at the end of the twenty-third stage of the UAE Football League .

Al-Ain raised its score to 47 points and took advantage of Shabab Al-Ahly’s 2-2 draw with Al-Nasr at the opening of the stage on Tuesday, to reduce the difference with it to 3 points, 3 stages before the end of the season.

Sharjah fell to fifth place with 42 points.

Kodjo opened the scoring with a header, which he planted in the net of Sharjah goalkeeper Adel Al Hosani, taking advantage of a cross by Moroccan Sufyan Rahimi (4).

Kodjo was close to adding the second goal, but his powerful shot was blocked by Al-Hosani in two waves (47), before the latter failed to deal with the Togolese striker's ball, which he received after a throw-in played by substitute Saeed Jumaa (86).

Kodjo raised his score to the top of the scorers to 25 goals, two goals ahead of Ali Mabkhout, Al Jazira striker.

The Togolese said after the end of the match, "We did our duty, now the difference with Shabab Al-Ahly has narrowed, and we have to continue and not forget that we have 3 matches, and we must win them, and then see what happens."

Al Wasl advanced to fourth place by defeating its guest Bani Yas with three goals scored by Ivory Coast's Adma Diallo (69 and 69) and Ali Saleh (79).
Al Wasl raised its score to 43 points, and Bani Yas remained in the eleventh place, with 22 points.

Ajman defeated its host, Al-Ittihad Kalba, with goals from Brazilian Eduardo Kempf (27 by mistake) and Moroccan Walid Azaro (49).
Ajman advanced to sixth place with 41 points, and Al-Ittihad Kalba remained eighth with 29 points.