Igor Coronado double helps seal Sharjah's place in President's Cup semi-final

Soares and Caio also on target in 4-0 win over Al Dhafra

Sharjah’s Brazilian forward Caio, left, shields the ball from Al Dhafra’s Mohammed Hassan. Courtesy UAE FA

Sharjah booked their place in the President’s Cup semi-finals after a 4-0 demolition of Al Dhafra inspired by a trio of Brazilians on Monday.

Welliton Soares put Sharjah ahead at the Hamdan bin Zayed Stadium in the Western Region after only two minutes before a second-half Igor Coronado brace and one from forward Caio.

Al Dhafra made a fist of things after falling behind, but Arabian Gulf League leaders Sharjah had the game firmly under their control after the break.

Abdulaziz Al Anbari said last week's defeat to Baniyas had given his players a "good wake-up call".

“Tonight the players were more focused and went about doing their jobs better,” said the Sharjah manager.

“Obviously to score an early goal provided the start we needed, even though the first half was very tight. Dhafra came hard for the equaliser. We managed to keep them away from scoring and then took control of the game in the second half.”

Brazilian forward Soares' powerful header gave Dhafra goalkeeper Khaled Al Senani no chance to put the visitors ahead.

Coronado doubled the lead on 58 minutes when he curled in a free kick from 30 yards and rounded off with his second goal in injury time.

Caio struck in-between, racing away from the Dhafra defence before dispatching low past Al Senani.

Dhafra pushed hard for the equaliser after conceding the early goal. They twice came twice close, with the Sharjah keeper Adel Al Hosani making an excellent save to deny an Essam Al Adwa header.

Brazilian forward Denilson came closest to equalising but his effort ricocheted off the near post on the half-hour.

Ahmed Shehda found the net seven minutes from time against Al Wasl to clinch Baniyas place in the last four.

The UAE-born Palestine forward, 21, scored with a low shot from just outside the area in his second attempt after his first shot rebounded off a defender.