|
Dubai - Al Nasr rode on an Arash Borhani brace
to quell Al Wasl and grab sole leadership of Group B in the FA Cup
yesterday.
Borhani, who had scored just once before for his new club this season, found
the net twice during the first half itself, to help Al Nasr grab full points
and lead the group with six points after two matches.
Borhani's countryman Farhad Majidi got the third, and an own goal from Sami
Rabea put the match beyond control for the home team, but only after
substitute Ahmad Fayrooz had pulled one back.
Al Ahli bagged their first points of the competition with a hard-fought 2-1
win against Fujairah in the day's second encounter.
Shaky defence
Defending champions Al Ain are the fifth team in the group. There was no
denying that Al Nasr were the better side against a shaky Al Wasl defence.
Their early pressure soon paid off as a curling cross from Yousuf Moosa saw
Borhani nipping in and deflecting past Ahmad Salem on the Al Wasl goal.
Al Wasl managed a short-lived equaliser in the 20th minute through Qatari
Mohammad Salem Al Enazi, but referee Badr Abdullah called for a foul on Sami
Rabea and disallowed the goal. The home team's second best chance for an
equaliser came in the 25th minute, but Brazilian Anderson's stiff shot went
straight into the eager arms of Salem Abdullah on the Al Nasr goal. Al Nasr
could have increased their lead in the 39th minute, but Majidi placed wide
after getting past a host of defenders.
Second goal
However, Borhani made amends for his countryman's lapse off the very next
move as he latched on to a hasty clearance from skipper Abdullah Eissa and
slammed past a helpless Ahmad Salem for his second goal. Al Nasr's third
came within six minutes of the second half, thanks to a blunder from
goalkeeper Ahmad Salem.
The home team goalkeeper went in to get proper control on a high lob into
the area, handed over an easy gift to an advancing Majidi, who got past him
and tapped into an empty goal. Ahmad Fayrooz got one back for Al Wasl. Al
Nasr's Sami Rabea deflected into his own goal to make it 4-1. In the day's
second match, Al Ahli picked up their first points with a 2-1 win.
|
