Dubai: Ivan Trickovski scored on his debut to help Al Nasr record their first Arabian Gulf League win of the season in a comfortable 3-0 victory at home to Sharjah on Sunday.
The Macedonian striker, who joined from Belgium’s Club Brugge over the summer, calmly slotted home a late third after first half goals from Hassan Mohammad and Ali Al Ameri had effectively killed the contest.
The win proved the Blue Wave could cope without the services of their talismanic Senegalese striker Ebrahima Toure, who received a four-match ban for punching Mohammad Al Jabar in their season-opening 1-1 draw away to Bani Yas last week.
Mohammad put Al Nasr in front on the half-hour mark with a tap-in at the back post from Abdullah Qasim’s cross after the latter had broken free down the right flank.
Leonardo Lima almost marked a first return to his old club with a quick equaliser for Sharjah moments later, but his header from Wanderley Monteiro’s pass came back off the post.
An unmarked Al Ameri then headed in from Mahmoud Khamis’ corner to hand Al Nasr a 2-0 lead before the interval.
Opening goalscorer Mohammad made way for Trickovski after the hour to inject new life into the game, which had seen the visitors flounder towards their second league defeat in two matches.
With four minutes to spare, an initial shot from Tareq Ahmad was palmed out wide as far as Jamal Hussain, who found Trickovski in space on the edge of the area to slot past Sharjah keeper Mohammad Yousuf.
Al Nasr coach Ivan Jovanovic said he was happy Trickovski got off the mark on his debut, especially considering Toure’s absence.
“It’s very important for a striker to get his opening goal and make his presence felt,” he said. “I worked with him for two fantastic years at my last club, Apoel of Cyprus, where we reached the quarter-finals of the Uefa Champions League.
“He gives a lot of solutions on the side or as a second striker and, knowing his character, I believe he can give a lot to Al Nasr.”
Regarding the future of Toure, who is being linked with a move away from the club after last week’s violent outburst, Jovanovic refused to speculate.
“It’s unfair to speak about Toure’s red card last week as it would overshadow the efforts of the rest of the team this evening. Toure is still an Al Nasr player, lets speak about the efforts of the team today and in the future we will see what happens.”
Sunday’s other early match saw Al Wahda snatch an injury-time winner as they came from behind to beat Emirates Club in Ras Al Khaimah.
Luiz Henrique gave the hosts the lead shortly before half-time, but Sebastian Tagliabue equalised on 73 minutes and Amer Omar completed the turnaround at the death.
