Asamoah Gyan scored twice in a nine-goal thriller as Al-Ain got off their title defence in the UAE Pro League in a 6-3 loss on Sunday.
The Ghana striker scored in either half of the game as his club, Al-Ain finished with ten men in their defeat to Al Ahli Dubai.
Gyan's first goal came in the 12th minute before registering the second after the interval when he scored from a spot kick in the 75th minute.
Last season, Gyan, who was on loan from English side, Sunderland, scored 22 times from 18 matches, a feat that crowned him the goal king and helped Al-Ain to the title.