News Center

Al Ain outclass Al Nasr 2-0 to remain on top

 

Defending Champions Al Ain continued their winning streak with a 2-0 win over Dubai-based Al Nasr in round 13 match held tonight at Al Maktoum Stadium to end the Etisalat Pro League first part on top of the standings with a record of 34 points, seven points ahead of second-placed Al Jazira. Al Nasr are fifth with 22 points. 

Both squads were cagey in the first five minutes as they feared to concede an early goal that might affect their planned tactics. But it was Al Ain who were the first to find their way to the hosts’ goal when the French striker Grembo Ekoko collected the ball, skipped through, rounded up two defenders before sending it into the far left corner only 7 minutes from the start whistle. This unexpected lead took the match to its ignition point, boosted the spirits and morals of the two team’s players as Al Nasr went all out trying to bring the game back into parity while their competitors struggled hard to double their advantage. Al Ain were close to make their dreams come true when midfielder Omar Abdulrahman fired a fierce left footer in the 13th minute but it flew just inches over the cross bar.

Al Nasr dominated the game after conceded the first goal and made a series of forays but failed to score and their real chance was in the 33rd minute when their Italian striker Mascara received the ball in front of the goal mouth but Al Ain defender Faris Juma’a was on hand to clear the ball away. Amid the intensive attacks built up by Al Nasr’s players, Al Ain did not stand still but also continued their attempts with all the hope to add more goals.

Al Ain made things difficult for the home team when the Ghanaian front liner Asamoah Gyan received a perfect pass from his teammate Omar Abdulrahman and did not hesitate to launch a strong shot which went straight into the right hand side to make it 2-0 eight minutes before the break to raise his record to 21 goals this season on top of the league scorers.

Gyan should have made it 3-0 only two minutes after the interval when Ekoko switched the ball into the box for Gyan to jump high before sending a powerful header, but the custodian Abdullah Mousa deflected the ball to a corner.

Al Ain Romanian coach Cozmin pulled out Ekoko in the 65th minute and brought on Ali Al Wihaibi and later on he replaced both Fawzi Fayez and Yaqoob Al Hosani for Asamoah Gyan and Hilal Saeed due to injury while Al Nasr’s coach Walter Zinga fielded on Ahmad Medhad to replace Nashat Akram. The two sides continued their attempts in the remaining minutes but things did not change for Al Ain to win the game with a 2-0 result.

In the other match of the day played at Bani Yas Stadium in Al Shamkha, the hosts added three valuable points to their tally following their deserved 3-1 victory over the visiting team Al Wasl. The winners are currently in fourth place with 25 points while Al Wasl are eighth with 17 points. Senegalese striker Andre Senghor gave Bani Yas the lead with a lovely header in the 26th minute and his colleague Mohammed Fawzi made it 2-0 also with a nice header three minutes later. Al Wasl’s Egyptian attacker Mahmoud Shekabala pulled one back in the 62nd minute but Sengahoor complicated things for their rivals when he netted the third goal in the 64th minute.