AL NASR DEFEAT AL SHABAB
dubai — Al Nasr came from a goal down to beat Dubai neighbours Al Shabab 2-1 in Round 23 of the Arabian Gulf League. Goals from Habib Al Fardan and Ibrahima Toure turned the result around for The Blues, who had fallen behind to an Edgar Bruno opener. Al Nasr now have 38 points, while Al Shabab remain second on 42.
The game started slowly and saw its first real attempt on goal in the 20th minute when Mahmoud Khamis thumped one of his trademark free kicks, but Ismail Rabee got his full body behind the shot to make a comfortable save.
But in the 25th minute it was Al Shabab who got in front, as Bruno’s chip took a deflection off stand-in centre-back Helal Saeed — in for the suspended Ali Al Ameri — and lofted over Ahmad Shambieh’s head into the back of the net.
Just after half an hour, Al Nasr attempted to hit back but Leo Lima’s shot from distance was just wide of the mark. In the 42nd minute Brett Holman steamed towards goal and Manei Mohammed was not far from putting the ball through his own net with a clearance. But a minute before the break Al Nasr were back on level terms at 1-1 as Mahmoud Khamis’ free kick was parried by Ismail Rabee but Habib Al Fardan was first to the ball and converted the rebound.
Five minutes after the restart Al Nasr made a strong claim for a penalty as the ball looked to have been handled in the penalty area but the appeals were waved away. In the 67th minute Edgar could have added his second goal, but the Brazilian striker skewed his shot into the side-netting while Al Nasr, substitute Alhusain Saleh had Al Shabab ’keeper scrambling across his goalmouth to keep out a long range shot within minutes of coming on.
In the 77th minute Habib Al Fardan’s strike was ruled offside, but barely two minutes later they managed to score through Toure, who tapped in Alhusain Saleh’s low cross from close range to give the hosts a 2-1 lead.
There were ugly scenes as a melee was sparked in the final ten minutes, leading to a straight red card apiece for Al Nasr’s Toure and Al Shabab’s Haydarov Azizbek.