Duabi: Al Shabab leapfrogged Al Jazira for second in the Etisalat Pro League on Thursday after Jociel Ferreira Da Silva inspired a 2-0 win over Al Wasl at Al Mamzar, while the defending champions lost 3-2 at Emirates.
Al Nasr also kept the pressure up on the Abu Dhabi giants equaling them on 32 points with a 3-2 win at home to Sharjah. Walter Zenga’s outfit is however still six goals short on positive goal difference behind Al Jazira in third.
Al Shabab went ahead just before half-time after Al Wasl’s Yasir Salem ducked and headed it into his own net with comedic precision on 44 minutes from a Ciel free-kick, swung into the danger zone from 20 yards.
The Brazilian then ran mockingly toward Diego Maradona’s dug-out and executed a swift Klinsmann dive in jubilant celebration, while the Argentine sat powerless.
Mohammad Khalatbari threaded Rashid Eisa through on the hour with a right heel flick, but Eisa’s effort, clear on goal, struck the left stanchion typifying a frustrating quarter for the visitors.
Al Shabab was awarded a penalty on 85 minutes after keeper Ahmed Mahmoud brought down Suroor Salem. Ciel did the honours hitting low and left from the spot.
Angry scenes erupted at the end after fury directed at Brazilian Ciel by Argentinean supporters spilled over in the stands between Shabab and Wasl fans.
In the earlier games Leo Lima put Al Nasr ahead on 12 minutes only for Eder Luciano to equalize on 21 minutes. Amara Diane then netted on 34 and 75 minutes before Luciano grabbed a consolation on 92.
The shock of the night came at lowly Emirates who stunned the defending champions Al Jazira up in Ras Al Khaimah. Modibo Diarra put the home side ahead on 26 minutes before Mathias Delgado’s 51st minute equalizer. Mohsine Moutouali then put Emirates back in front from the penalty spot on 66 minutes only for Sultan Barghash to bring it level again on the 80th. The winner then came from a second Moutouali penalty conversion on 84 minutes, seriously denting Al Jazira’s ambitions of a title defence.
Top of the league Al Ain plays Bani Yas tomorrow but for the hours remaining until that game their lead is reduced to just six points.
