Asamoah Gyan's second-half penalty helped restore Al-Ain's seven-point lead at the top of the UAE Pro-League standings as they saw off the challenge of Al-Ahly Dubai.

The Ghana star's 56th-minute spot-kick was the only goal of the game as pacesetters Al-Ain put more daylight between themselves and second-placed reigning champions Al Jazira, who beat Al Wasl yesterday.

Third-placed Al-Nasr slipped further adrift of the leading pair after they suffered a surprise 1-0 defeat at home to lowly Dubai SC, who recorded only their second win of the season thanks to Hassan Mohammed's 82nd-minute strike. To add salt to Al-Nasr's wounds, they are now just a point ahead of fourth-placed Al-Shabab, who thrashed Sharjah 5-1.

Kieza and Issa Obaid both netted braces for the victors while Mahmoud Qassim added the other goal, with Sharjah's consolation coming from Sang Hoo in the 69th minute when they were already 4-0 down.

The defeat leaves Sharjah bottom of the table with Dubai SC now above them on goal difference.