Dubai: Sharjah recorded a comfortable 3-0 win over newly promoted Ittihad Kalba in their first match of the 2010/11 Etisalat Pro League season at Al Nasr's Maktoum Stadium in Oud Mehta last night.
The Sharjah Emirate derby was played in front of a measly 678 people on neutral territory, instead of Kalba's home ground, because of a pitch re-turfing issue.
Despite a quick flurry of three consecutive one-on-one opportunites for Kalba, falling to Abdulla Baba Fatadi, Moustapha Dabo and Salim Jasim Mohammad respectively, the theoretical home side failed to take advantage of some good early play.
In the second half, however, Sharjah executed their chances with precision accuracy. Robert Brito Luciano's lofty cross into Marcelo Oliveira Da Silva was ballooned over the Kalba's keeper and into the top of the net with a powerful arching header on 49 minutes.
The same culprits were involved on the 58th minute, but this time the cross was put low across the six yard box by Brito for Marcelo to dummy through his legs.
Humaid Ahmad Abdullah was just as surprised at Marcelo's inaction but got enough of a touch to see the ball trickle into the bottom right.
A third was added on 94 minutes with the last kick of the game, a freekick just outside the area from Marcelo, curling into the top left corner.
Meanwhile in last night's only other game Al Jazira outclassed Al Nasr in Abu Dhabi 3-0 with goals from Khalid Subail (32 minutes), Abdullah Mousa (75 minutes) and Ahmed Juma (93 minutes).
The victories put Al Jazira and Sharjah top of the table after match day one, with Kalba and Al Nasr bottom on goals conceded. Meanwhile Al Ahli and Al Wahda occupy the bottom half after both teams lost 2-0 on Thursday to Al Dhafra and Al Wasl respectively.
Marcelo of Sharjah is an early goal scoring leader with two. But tonight's games between Al Shabab – Baniyas and Al Ain – Dubai will likely shake things up as Match day one concludes from 10pm.
