Al Wahda's new import striker, Mohammed Salim Al Anzi, didn't need much time to become popular with his club fans as it took him only two minutes to create his team's first goal before going on to score a hat-trick leading Al Wahda to a comfortable 4-2 victory in the Abu Dhabi derby against their traditional rivals and neighbours Al Jazira yesterday at Al Nahyan Stadium.
Al Anzi, the first ever Qatari player to take part as a professional in the UAE league, did not even need time to adapt to his new teammates. A replacement for Jerry of Congo, he had arrived in Abu Dhabi four days ago from Al Rayyan Club in Doha and trained thrice with the team before shining in his first match yesterday stealing the thunder from all his other talented colleagues who lead the standings of the first division league with maximum points having collected 15 from five matches.
The game was a "Dutch Duel" between old friends and rivals David Marinus of Al Wahda, who was Al Jazira's coach two years ago, and his countryman Alex Schoemacher. Both used all their cards and the match was highly tactical but the home team avenged their last season's defeat against Al Jazira and maintained their sole leadership of the competition.
Al Anzi began the match passing to Mohammed Konte who was on target, only two minutes after the start of play.
But there was no stopping the evergreen Joel Tiehi who broke the one-line defence of Al Wahda following a long pass from Emanuel and went on to level the score with his personal ninth goal in five matches, 27 minutes into the game.
Fahad Massaood, the home team's midfielder, made many attacking moves on the right flank giving the guests a torrid time. And from such a move in the 37th minute Fahad found Al Anzi who headed home his first goal.
In the second half Gasim Omar, the visitor's midfielder, was injured and was taken outside the field for treatment and Hayder Allo Ali, his opposite midfielder capitalised on the absence of Omar and led an attack on his side before crossing to Al Anzi who headed home his second and his team's third only three minutes after the breather. Omar had to be substituted and Salih Abdulla played in his place.
Salih was soon at the helm of action leading a well organised attack that involved passes with Tiehi, Hussain Suhail and Mohammed Abdulla before the latter returned the ball to Salih whose shot from outside the penalty box found the net for the visitor's second goal, 19 minutes after the interval.
Al Wahda saw a fruitful end to their efforts when Adil Matar who came in place of Yasir Salim crossed from the left and the ever-ready Al Anzi headed home his third and his team's fourth and final goal, only three minutes before the end of regular time.
He was then was substituted by Saeed Khamis who also missed from close range after the Al Jazira went all out in the closing minutes of the match.