DUBAI // Fabio Lima was the toast of Al Wasl on Friday night as his two goals brought his side back to split the points with Emirates in an entertaining 2-2 draw at the Zabeel Stadium.
All four goals came in the second half, with Luiz Henrique opening the scores in the 48th minute and then providing the cross for Jamal Ibrahim to make it 2-0 in the 64th minute.
Three minutes later, Lima pulled one back for the hosts and then, with only seconds left on the clock, he flicked home the equaliser to stretch Wasl’s longest unbeaten streak in the professional era of the league to eight matches.
RELATED:
> Baniyas give Al Ain a hand to lift Arabian Gulf League title by beating Al Jazira
The point helped Wasl move into fifth on the points table and keep their challenge for a top-four finish alive, but Emirates will not be too disappointed with the draw either.
The Ras Al Khaimah club have 24 points, which is 10 more than Ajman, and, with only three round of matches remaining, have moved clear of the relegation zone.
Wasl, though, will be disappointed they did not get more points from the match. The hosts had started promisingly, but the Emirates goalkeeper, Ahmed Al Shaji, did well to deny them, especially in the 14th minute, making two good reflex saves.
First, he pushed back an Ederson header and then recovered to block Lima’s attempt to fire in the rebound.
Lima was not to be denied in the second session, though, and, with his team trailing by two goals, the Brazilian pulled one back in the 67th minute to raise their spirits, punching back the ball after Al Shaji had done well to block Hugo Viana’s shot.
Lima, 21, who is registered as Wasl’s Asian player, then got the equaliser in a tense finish, flicking home from a goalmouth scramble to keep his team’s unbeaten streak alive.
arizvi@thenational.ae
Follow our sports coverage on Twitter @NatSportUAE