Hatta edge Sharjah to notch first win in AGL

dubai — New coach Nizar Mahrous finally got Hatta’s campaign going with their first win in the new season of the Arabian Gulf League on Friday night.

A brace from Fernando Gabriel and a goal from Sabeel Al Madani gave The Hurricanes a 3-2 victory over Sharjah at the Hamdan bin Rashid Stadium in Hatta.

Omar Juma and Welliton Soares scored for Sharjah, but it wasn’t enough for ‘The King’ to score a first win.

It was the ideal start for the 54-year-old Syrian Mahrous, who took over after Gjokica Hadzievski was axed. Hadzievski, who had impressed in Hatta’s first season in the UAE top flight last year, paid the price for the heavy defeats against Shabab Al Ahli Dubai, Al Ain and the Emirates.

Hatta logged their first points in the League and are now placed 10th on the table. Sharjah, meanwhile, are one spot from the bottom with a lone point to show from four fixtures.

The hosts went ahead on 28 minutes after Sabeel Al Madani pounced on goalkeeper Adel Al Hosani’s clearance following Fernando Gabriel’s freekick.

But Sharjah managed to cancel that out in identical fashion after Vander Veira’s freekick was thwarted by shot stopper Obaid Thani. Omar Juma, who was lurking nearby, latched on the rebound and fired it home, in added time in the first half.

Hatta retook the lead on 69 minutes through Gabriel, who sent a screamer past Adel Al Hosani after Samuel Rosa had sent a neat through.

Welliton Soares got Sharjah back in the game with the equaliser, four minutes from time, through a penalty but Hatta edged this one through Gabriel, whose freekick was right on target, in the final seconds of the game.

james@khaleejtimes.com Goals HAttA 3

> Goals: Sabeel Al Madani 28, Fernando Gabriel 69, 90. Yellow cards: Saad Khamis 80, Fernando Gabriel 89) SHArjAH 2

> Goals: Omar Juma 45, Welliton Soares 86. Yellow cards: Hamad Ibrahim 43, Welliton Soares 88)