Abu Dhabi: Al Ain and Al Nasr remained top and second in the Etisalat Pro-League after comfortable wins.
Al Ain thrashed Dubai 5-2 away, while Al Nasr overcame Dibba 3-1 in the ninth week of the competition.
Al Ain, increased to lead the way with 22 points, while second-placed Al Nasr are two points behind.
Dubai were confronted by the strength of their visitors attack as early as the first minute when their goalkeeper was forced to make a full-stretch save from an Omar Abdul Rahman shot.
But one minute later his block of Khalid Abdul Rahman’s shot hit Asamoah Gyan’s leg and went into the net for the visitors’ first goal.
Omar Abdul Rahman then scored a brace while Gyan added his second goal from the penalty spot, which was his 17th strike this season in the league.
Alex Brosque scored an amazing goal with a first-time volley to seal the win for the defending champions.
Defender Mohammad Ali headed Dubai’s first goal following a corner and Richard Porta added a second following a blunder by Dawood Sulaiman, the visiting goalkeeper. It was Porta’s eighth goal of the season.
Al Nasr, last season’s runners-up, took the lead in the 11th minute with Guiseppe Mascara heading home the first goal.
However, they failed to add another goal until Dibba scored the equaliser when Lusi Fernando scored with a beautiful curling lob in the 63rd minute. It was like awakening a giant as Al Nasr took complete command and scored two goals via Bruno Cesar and Humaid Abbas.
Pro-League results and fixtures
Friday:
Al Nasr 3 Dibba 1
Dubai 2 Al Ain 5
Playing later:
Al Shaab vs Al Dhafra
Al Wahda vs Al Ahli.
Saturday:
Kalba vs Al Jazira, 4.40pm.
Bani Yas vs Ajman, 4.50pm.
Al Shabab vs Al Wasl, 8pm.
