Dubai Al Wasl rode on a final minute goal from former national striker Saeed Al Kaas to revive their flagging fortunes with a 3-2 win against Al Dhafrah in their fourth week match of the etisalat pro league yesterday [Saturday].
The visitors went clear in the sixth minute, thanks to an own goal from Khairi Al Hammadi, while Spaniard Francisco Xavier Yeste scored his second for his new club to seal three points for the Dubai side. But Boris Kabi pulled one back for Al Dhafrah in the eleventh minute and scored the equaliser in the 69th minute.
Just when it looked like the match would end in a draw, substitute Al Kaas found the net from an acute angle to give the visitors full points and assume temporary leadership in the 12-team standings with nine points. Al Dhafrah's third loss means they are in danger of being relegated with just three points.
Al Wasl went clear in the sixth minute when Brazilian Alexandre Oliveira's cross from the left flank was mistakenly deflected inside past goalkeeper Mohammad Hussain by defender Al Hammadi.
Al Hammadi redeemed himself five minutes later with a pass to unmarked Ivory Coast striker Boris Kabi, who tapped past Majid Nasser for the Al Dhafrah equaliser.
The home team then took control of the proceedings and should have gone ahead in the 32nd minute had it not been for an alert Nasser.
In the 37th minute, Yeste strode in and slammed a low shot giving Mohammad Al Tamimi no chance.
Al Dhafrah went all out for the equaliser early in the second half, but the A Wasl defence kept them at bay. However, the Al Wasl goal eventually fell when Hamad Al Hussaini picked up a through pass from skipper Mohammad Al Saeedi and slotted home.
Just when it looked like the teams would split points, Al Kaas let loose a low shot from a narrow angle to help his side take home a well-deserved three points.
RESULT
Al Wasl 3 Al Dhafrah 2
