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Al Shabab grab late 3-2 winner at Al Nasr

Al Shabab seized the opportunity to leapfrog their opponents Al Nasr in the Etisalat Pro League as they grabbed a late 3-2 winner at the Al Maktoum Stadium in Round 16. The win sees Al Shabab switch places with Al Nasr, moving up to 5th position on 26 points, whilst Al Nasr now sit one point behind them in 6th place. Al Nasr were missing Italian striker Giuseppe Mascara for the match due to suspension for picking up three yellow cards.

It was the visitors who opened the scoring in just the 8th minute, as the Brazilian duo of Edgar Bruno and Ciel combined to take the lead. Ciel whipped in a corner which was met by the head of the onrushing Edgar, putting Al Shabab 1-0 up. The early goal opened up contest, which had been careful and cagey for the opening period, and both teams stepped up their tempo as Al Shabab took the lead. Al Nasr were handed a lifeline in the 26th minute with the award of a penalty when Al Shabab goalkeeper Abdullah Salem brought down Essa Ali in the box. Brazilian Linardo Lima stepped up to convert the spot kick with his right foot, making the scoreline even at 1-1 in the 27th minute, and this is how the score remained for the rest of the first half.

Just five minutes after the restart, Al Nasr went ahead with a stunning set piece from Lima. The Brazilian bent his free kick perfectly over the wall and Al Shabab’s goalkeeper was helpless to stop it. But Al Shabab again silenced the home side in the 77th minute, pegging them back with an equaliser to make it 2-2. Haydarov Azizbek unleashed a fierce drive from distance, rattling the crossbar, and the rebound cannoned back into the box where substitute Abdullah Hassan was on hand to collect the ball and score.

Ten minutes later and just three minutes from time, Al Shabab’s never-say-die attitude paid off as they snatched the winner. Ciel’s shot was parried by Salem Abdullah in the Al Nasr goal, but the blocked shot fell to Edgar and he made no mistake in securing the three points for his side with a 3-2 victory.