Al Nasr leave it late for 3-0 victory over Al Wahda as teams locked on points in AGL table

Jassim Yaqoob on target twice and Amir Mubarak rounds things off with third right on full time for home side to end four-match run without win and move up one place to seventh place, writes Amith Passela.

Abdulrahim Ahli of Al Wahda, right, holds off Ahmed Khamis of Al Nasr during their Arabian Gulf League game, but Al Nasr still won on the night. Courtesy Arabian Gulf League

Al Nasr scored three late goals to emerge as resounding 3-0 winners over Al Wahda at the Al Maktoum Stadium on Saturday night.

Jassim Yaqoob was on target twice and Amir Mubarak rounded things off with a third right on full time for the home side to end their four-match run without a win and move up one place to seventh place in the Arabian Gulf League table.

Abdelaziz Barrada sent in a cross and Mubarak Saeed’s header was blocked by goalkeeper Rashed Ali.

However Yaqoob was on hand to fire the loose ball into the net for the lead after 74 minutes.

Yaqoob was on target again with a curling effort from the edge of the area to double the lead three minutes from time before a blunder at the back from Sultan Al Ghafri allowed Mubarak to slot home the third.

It was a below-par performance from a full-strength Wahda side returning to action four days after their qualification to the Asian Champions League, when they defeated Al Wehdat of Jordan 3-0.

Wahda and Nasr are now locked together on 25 points.

First-half goals from Abdullah Al Sayari and Yassine Salhi set the platform for Al Dhafra’s 2-1 victory at Kalba in the early game.

The home side pulled one back through their Brazilian forward Ciel two minutes from time but that was too little and too late for a side struggling four points above the drop zone.

Al Sayari’s cross from deep missed everyone and found the net for a 19th-minute lead.

Moroccan midfielder Salhi doubled the lead after 33 minutes when he got on the end of a cross from compatriot Adel Hermach.

Ciel struck to half the advantage but Dhafra survived the remaining period to return with full points, taking their tally to 26 points and climbing two places to fifth in the AGL table.

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