Win is special, says striker Fabio de Lima

— Al Wasl striker Fabio de Lima said the Bur Dubai Derby against Al Nasr was a “special game” and was glad that The Cheetahs could come away with the three points.

“It was a special game for everybody because it was a Derby. A Derby is a different kind of game and we are very happy to have taken all three points,” Fabio de Lima said after the game.

And while they had reason to be pleased, de Lima said it was vital to put it behind and concentrate on the road ahead. Next up, The Cheetahs entertain Abu Dhabi heavyweights Al Wahda in the 17th round of the League, at the Zabeel Stadium on February 2. “We got the three points and now we have to recover and concentrate on the next game. Al Wahda are a very strong side and Al Wasl need three more points from the next game. We will work hard this week to get those three points because it is very important to stay at the top,” he said.

Meanwhile, Al Nasr defender Joan Oumari said that they were unlucky and some stupid mistakes cost them the game.

“We were a bit unlucky. We made some stupid mistakes at our end. We gave them two easy goals but we played good,” said the Lebanese, a winter signing from Turkish side Sivasspor.

Oumari said it was difficult without their Brazilian striker Wanderley, who has been handed a 10-match ban by the UAE Football Association, but added that there was nothing they could do about it. “Wanderley is a very good player but we also have some really good Emirati players and we are a team. Even though Wanderley was not there, we played well. But in the end, we made stupid mistakes,” he said. “We cannot do anything. We must try to forget these bad things and try and go for good things.”