Al Wasl jump to fourth in Arabian Gulf League

Dubai: Al Wasl rode on a twin strike from Caio Canedo to pull themselves up to fourth position with a 2-1 win over visiting Bani Yas in the ninth round of the Arabian Gulf League on Friday.

In a tough tussle for the top positions, Al Wasl now have 15 points following five wins and three losses in eight games this season.

Al Ahli are the only team with an unblemished record of six wins from six, after their hard-fought 2-1 win over neighbours and arch-rivals Al Shabab, on Thursday.

Al Ain continue to head the standings with 19 points after six wins, a draw and a loss, while Al Ahli is in second with 18 points after six matches. Al Nasr too is unbeaten to occupy third position with five wins and three draws after eight matches.

However, this may alter a bit after Al Nasr host leaders and defending champions Al Ain in their ninth round match late on Saturday.

On loan from Brazil’s Internacional, Canedo was the man of the hour for the hosts on Friday. The 25-year-old from Volta Redondo, opened the scoring in the 25th minute when his well-directed header off a corner from Hugo Vianna found the nets past a stranded Mohammad Khalaf on the Bani Yas goal.

The fleet-footed Brazilian doubled the score in the 45th minute when he accepted a pass from Edgar Bruno and curled in a first-time kick well over an out of position visiting goalkeeper.

The second half started on a promising note with Vianna’s well-struck free kick from outside the area saved brilliantly by Bani Yas goalkeeper Khalaf in the 53rd minute.

Thereafter, Bani Yas tried their best to get a goal but were denied time and again by substitute goalkeeper Rashid Ali, who came in place of Yousuf Abdullah who got injured in the opening ten minutes. However, Joaquin Larrivey managed to pull one back in the 78th minute to take his tally to eight goals in the AGL when he slammed in a rebound off the post following a corner kick.

Meanwhile in Fujairah, the home side caved in to a lone 55th minute goal from Nasser Abdul Hadi to allow new entrants Dibba travel back with full points.