Abu Dhabi: A brace of goals by Brazilian Everton Ribeiro saw Al Ahli maintain the unbeaten record in the Arabian Gulf League with a 3-1 authoritative win over Al Wahda at the Al Nahyan Stadium on Sunday.
Ribeiro, who struck on either side of the halves, was split by a goal from compatriot Rodrigo Lima. The consolation goal for the hosts came of a solo effort from Jorge Valdivia.
What should have been a simple collection for Al Wahda goalkeeper Adel Al Hosani resulted in a freak goal for Al Ahli in the 28th minute. Ribeiro played a give and take with Walid Abbass before sending in a curling left-footer which settled into the goal as the entire Wahda defense, including Al Hosani, remained rooted.
In the 41st minute, Argentinian Sebastian Tagliabue’s header from an Ismaeil Matar free-kick, sailed over the crossbar.
Al Wahda should have drawn level, had the vertical not come to Al Ahli’s rescue after the change of ends. Matar’s corner from the right was not cleared properly and Brazilian Denilson followed it with a powerpacked shot but only to see it find the bottom of the vertical.
However, the visitors made it 2-0 in the 60th minute through a simplest of goal by Brazilian Rodrigo Lima. Ribeiro stole the ball from the foot of defender Hamdan Al Kamali and set it for his country mate Lima, who just had to side step the onrushing Wahda custodian Al Hosani before tapping the ball home.
Minutes later, a pumped up Lima almost got his second goal of the evening when he unleashed a powerpacked shot from the top of the box but only to see it being blocked by Al Hosani.
Wahda then slipped further in the 72nd minute after a Lima chip found an unmarked Ribeiro inside the box and the latter shot home with a neat placement to get his second goal of the evening. The duo then celebrated the goal with a little samba jig.
It needed a spark of brilliance in the 78th minute from Al Wahda star player Valdivia to keep the home team in the match. The Chilean ace, subdued for most part of the match, was given enough space to show his magic with the ball and he made it count. He, after cutting past two defenders, found the right top corner of the goal with a clinical strike from metres outside the box.
The margin would have been further reduced, had a free-kick from Al Kamali not found the bottom of the vertical in the 82nd minute. Al Ahli, who made it to the final of AFC Champions League just four days back, with this win now have 12 points from four matches while Al Wahda have seven points from six matches.
