Dubai: Fabio Lima buried fears of transfer distraction with two goals in Al Wasl’s 3-1 win at home to Emirates in the Arabian Gulf League on Thursday.
Speaking to press after last week’s league-opening 2-2 draw away to Al Ain, in which he scored, the Brazilian midfielder said this week might be his last at Zabeel Stadium following a slew of offers.
Al Wasl immediately put a Dh100 million asking price on the player. But with most transfer windows closed — and UAE clubs all at capacity — it remains to be seen where he can go.
He hasn’t been sidetracked by all the talk, however, and on Thursday against Emirates he duly netted a long range equaliser three minutes after Sebastian Saez’s 12th-minute opener, before adding a headed second on 73 minutes, 18 minutes after Caio Correa’s effort.
Lima is now on 64 goals in 78 appearances for the club, since joining on a five-year deal from Brazil’s Atletico Goianiense in 2014. He was the second-highest scorer in the league last season with 25 goals in 26 appearances, as Al Wasl came second — their highest league finish in a decade — in Argentine former Boca Juniors boss Rodolfo Arruabarrena’s first season.
“It was a difficult match and Emirates are no easy side because we hadn’t beaten them at home in the league in five years before this game,” said Arruabarrena.
“In the beginning of the match we had patience and moved to goal but didn’t have the situation to score. The only mistake we made was in conceding the opener. After that we equalised and continued to move the ball but didn’t have the situations.
“In the second half everything came together, we had situations and control of the ball and scored. We won a very important match and made the point that we won in Al Ain mean something by following it up with a win at home.
“Now we take a moment to rest and start thinking about the next match away to Sharjah. We want to carry on playing the way we did in today’s second half. This was a very important win and it’s been a good start to the league but we have to carry on the same way.”
Elsewhere, on Thursday, Al Dhafra beat Sharjah 2-0 at home courtesy of two penalties on three and 29 minutes from Ahmad Al Abri and Ailton Almeida.
Al Dhafra had started the season last week with a 3-3 draw away to Emirates, while Sharjah had drawn 0-0 at home to Al Nasr.
