Al Wasl claimed the bragging rights in their Dubai derby against Al Nasr last night as they came from a goal down to defeat their rival 2-1 at the Al Maktoum Stadium last night.
The visitors conceded an own goal before strikes from Wasl’s Brazilians Ronaldo Mendes and Fabio de Lima secured all three points, moving above Al Ahli and Al Ain to second spot in the league.
The result took Wasl’s tally to 33, five behind leaders Al Jazira — who play Sharjah in today’s early game.
Al Ahli are in third on 32 and play Al Ain — who have 31 points — in the late game tonight.
A moment of misfortune from Abdulrahman Ali gave Nasr the lead on 19 minutes.
Abdelaziz Barrada sent in a low cross from the left flank which Ahmed Khamis failed to clear and Wasl defender Ali knocked it into the back of his own net.
However, Nasr lost the advantage nine minutes later when Mendes fired home a dipping free kick for the equaliser.
Ahmed Shambeh, the Nasr goalkeeper, did well to keep the scores level when he kept out a powerfully struck header from Caio shortly after the break.
Wasl kept pushing for the lead and were eventually rewarded for their perseverance.
They Nasr defence was caught napping after a long ball from their own area was collected by De Lima, who then make a dash inside the pena0lty area before slipping it past the charging goalkeeper for the lead.
After falling behind, it was Nasr’s turn to push for the equaliser and they nearly achieved it.
Only a reflex save from Humaid Abdullah, the Wasl goalkeeper, denied Khamis from scoring with a close-range header.
That was as close Nasr got to salvaging something from the game as the visitors played out the remainder of the game to preserve their one-goal lead.
Earlier, Al Shabab’s Brazilian forward Henrique Luvannor scored a hat-trick for his team to emerge 4-2 winners over bottom team Baniyas.
It also ended the Dubai club’s seven-match run without a win in the league.
Luvannor put the visitors ahead in the ninth minute and Tomas de Vincenti doubled it 10 minutes into the second half.
Frenchman Jean-Philippe Mendy struck twice within two minutes for Baniyas to level the score with 30 minutes remaining, but Shabab hit back towards the end with Luvannor on target twice and completed his hat-trick.
Elsewhere, two goals from Brazilian striker Bruno helped Dibba move up to 12th place as they swapped places with Emirates at the Emirates Club Stadium.
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