Sebastian Tagliabue on target as Al Nasr beat Sharjah

Sebastian Tagliabue (second from left) reacts after scoring in Al Nasr’s 2-1 win over Sharjah in the Arabian Gulf League at the Al Maktoum stadium on Sunday, March 8, 2021. Courtesy PLC

Sharjah suffered a second successive defeat to fall further down in the Arabian Gulf League standings.

The defending champions went down to Al Nasr 2-1 in matchweek 19 at Al Maktoum Stadium on Sunday.

Sebastian Tagliabue put the home side in front just before half-time and then regained the lead four minutes after Saif Rashid had struck the equaliser.

Nasr’s Portuguese midfielder Toze's free kick hit the crossbar and Tagliabue tapped in the rebound for the hosts to lead at the break.

Sharjah levelled things up when Rashid's header nestled into the back of Ahmed Shambih's net on the hour mark.

However, their joy was short-lived as Tagliabue regained Nasr’s lead when he volleyed a neat cross from Ryan Mendes from inside the area.

Nasr moved up to fourth spot on 36 points, one below Sharjah. Al Jazira top the table on 41 points, with Baniyas in second on 39.

In the other games, Khorfakkan thrashed Al Dhafra 5-1 and Ajman held Al Wahda 3-3 at home.

Raphael Guimaraes scored twice in the first six minutes before Ramon Lemos added a third to set the platform for Khorfakkan at the Saqr bin Mohammad al Qassimi Stadium.

Makhete Diop pulled one back for the visitors on 71 minutes before Paulo Melo and Ismail Al Hammadi struck twice to complete Khorfakkan’s fifth win in the league.

Ajman scored a late equaliser to share the spoils with Wahda in an entertaining match at the Rashid bin Saeed Stadium.

Ismail Matar latched onto a rebound and tapped home to give the visitors a sixth-minute lead before Abdulla Saleh equalised just after the half-hour mark.

Tim Matavz then regained Wahda’s lead just before the interval and Omar Khribin further extended Al Wahda's lead in the 63rd minute.

Diego Jardel closed the gap with a penalty on 77 minutes before Bubacarr Trawally's header earned Ajman a point.