Al Wasl 2
Caio 23’, De Lima 81’
Al Nasr 1
Barrada 44’
DUBAI // Fabio de Lima jinked his way into the Al Nasr penalty area and settled the first Bur Dubai derby of the season.
The Al Wasl midfielder, one of the Arabian Gulf League’s standout stars, struck nine minutes from time at a buzzing Zabeel Stadium on Friday night, making it two league victories from their past two meetings with the club’s old rivals. Previous to that, it had been seven years since Wasl defeated Nasr. Seven years of bad luck has been well and truly confined to the past.
They opened the scoring in the 23rd minute, once De Lima had brilliantly held off Nasr’s defenders to roll a pass to compatriot Caio. The Brazilian took a few steps then curled his first-time effort low past Ahmed Shambieh in the Nasr goal. It was Caio’s second in two matches against them, the striker scoring a late, late winner in the corresponding fixture last season.
Yet the visitors drew level just before half time. UAE striker Saleh Salem won a dubious free-kick on the left edge of the Wasl penalty area, leaving teammate Abdelaziz Barrada to expertly find the top corner. Sensing an injustice, Wasl protested at the award.
The hosts were again airing their frustrations moments later, when Mahmoud Khamis appeared to handle Humaid Abbas’s floated pass inside the Nasr area. However, no penalty was given.
Not long after the break, the officials once more found themselves at the centre of the action. This time, referee Abdullah Al Ajel deemed Khalid Sabeal had used an arm to block Jires Kembo Ekoko’s attempt to pass him and promptly awarded Nasr a penalty. The Wasl bench remonstrated vigorously, which in turn caused the fourth official to inform Al Ajel that he had erred. Decision rescinded, it was turn of the Nasr bench to voice their disapproval.
Their night soon got worse. On 81 minutes, De Lima exchanged a neat one-two with Sabeal before ghosting past the Nasr defence as finishing low past Shambieh. All those connected with Wasl celebrated wildly. After so long without any derby delight, two have come along in quick succession.
MAN OF THE MATCH – Fabio de Lima The Brazilian playmaker is typically his side's catalyst and this was no different. First, he teed up Caio's opener, then scored a goal of real quality to settle the match.
WHAT THE MANAGERS SAID
Rodolfo Arruabarrena, Al Wasl "The referee gave the decision and then the fourth official changed it. It's not normal, but it happens. When a referee makes a mistake for your team you don't say anything, when it's against your team, you protest. It happens all over the world. In the end won the derby, but we also have to think about the next match against Al Wahda, otherwise this will only be a win, in the clasico for Al Wasl."
Ivan Jovanovic, Al Nasr "In today's game, in a derby game and a game of this importance, we should have a referee who's prepared to play the game. I believe he was not ready to referee this game. All the decisions went in the wrong way. Of course in football, mistakes happen, but someone needs to explain why these happened or not. As Al Nasr club, we deserved a lot more respect than we got today from these people."
NATIONAL VERDICT Wasl just about deserved the victory, for they marginally had the better of the chances. As expected, it was a keenly contested derby, with the points sealed by De Lima's superior talent. Wasl have two league wins from three thus far this season.
jmcauley@thenational.ae
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