Al Wasl close to booking their spot in the last four

Al Wasl moved within touching distance of earning a semi-final spot in the Etisalat Cup after a 2-1 home victory over Al Shabab in the Group B top-of-the-table clash at the Zabeel Stadium last night.

Alexandre Oliveira put Wasl ahead on the half hour and Mohammed Jamal doubled the lead eight minutes into the second half of proceedings.

Eisa Mohammed pulled one back for Al Shabab close to the hour but the home side held on to win, which took their tally to 15 points, three more than Shabab with two matches left in group play.

Meanwhile, Kalba suffered their first defeat in the competition when Esam al Mansoori struck two minutes into added time for Sharjah to claim a 3-2 home victory and keep their own chances alive of making progress through to the knockout stages of the competition.

Kalba remain in third on 11 points, one ahead of Sharjah, who are a further one point in front of Al Jazira, the defending Etisalat Cup champions.

Gustavo Lazzaretti struck for Sharjah in the eighth minute but Yaser Karama equalised seven minutes into the second half.

A goal by Marcelinho, the Brazilian striker, put Sharjah back in the lead near the hour but it was cancelled out again by Simon Feinduono, the striker from French Guinea, a minute from time. Then came al Mansoori's late winner.

Kalba have only four points from 11 Pro League matches, but have won twice and drawn five times in seven Etisalat matches, most of them under the stewardship of the Brazilian coach Jorvan Vieira, before losing last night.

The top two teams in each cup group qualify for the semi-finals.