Al Ahli looked in a strong position to record their first win of the campaign after Milad Midavoodi added to first half penalties from Salem Khamis and Ali Al Hawasin just after the hour-mark to open up a three-goal cushion for the United Arab Emirates club.

But Fereydoon Fazli, Shahin Shafiei, Mohammad Nori, Mohsen Yousefi and Mohammad Hamrang struck as the home side fell apart and Saba ensured a third place finish to leave Al Ahli bottom with just one point from six games.

After the game was interrupted for around eight minutes following a floodlight failure, Hamrang headed against the Al Ahli post, while at the other end Al Ahli striker Mohamed Surour was let down by a poor first touch as he attempted to round goalkeeper Almir Tolja.

But Tolja was given no chance 10 minutes before the break as Al Ahli captain Khamis stepped up to calmly roll home from spot after Ali Latifi had tangled with Midavoodi.

And the home side doubled their lead in the extended period of stoppage-time as Al Hawasin took over the penalty duties after Ahmed Khalil’s free-kick struck the raised arm of Hamid Sarabadani in the Saba wall.

Saba made an encouraging start to the second-half but failed to test Saif Yousuf as the Al Ahli goalkeeper dealt comfortably with Adel Kolahkaj’s well-struck free-kick and efforts from Fazli and Hamrang.

And six minutes after the hour mark Midavoodi raced clear of the Saba defence following a perfectly weighted through ball from substitute Ismail Alhmadi and calmly lifted the ball over the advancing Tolja to extend the lead.

Saba did get on the score sheet a minute later with an apparent consolation as Fazli headed home after Yousefi’s chipped cross was directed back across the face of goal by Nori.

The visitors reduced the deficit further six minutes later as Shafiei lifted the ball over Yousuf from inside the area before Saba equalised less than a minute later as Nori rifled home from inside the area.

Yousefi rattled the Al Ahli woodwork soon after, but he was not to be denied with eight minutes remaining as he rifled home from inside the area

Nori turned provider with three minutes left, setting up Hamrang who scored into the unguarded net before Al Ahli were reduced to 10 men in stoppage-time when Saad Surour was shown a straight red card following a lunging tackle on Hamrang.