Dubai: Rodrigo Lima continued his scoring run to help Al Ahli join Al Wasl at the top of Group A in the Arabian Gulf Cup on Saturday.
Lima, who joined the Red Knights from Portuguese side Benfica, has so far scored ten times including three vital strikes in as many AFC Champions League matches.
The 32-year-old Brazilian opened the scoring when he nodded in a corner kick in the 44th minute and then added a second by blasting in a low volley past Mohammad Esmail in the Al Nasr goal three minutes into the second half.
The result took Al Ahli to the top of Group A along with cross-city rivals Al Wasl with seven points each, while defending champions Al Nasr remained third in the group with four points.
Both teams spent the majority of the first half assessing each other with play restricted to midfield. Mohammad Sabil provided a spark in the 25th minute when he connected with an Everton Ribeiro free kick, but the ball flew wide.
In the 36th minute the Al Nasr goalkeeper had to dive full length to keep away a fine first-time volley from Ribeiro.
The home team finally struck as the lurking Lima crept in past his marker and scored with a glancing header a minute before half time.
The Red Knights hardly gave Al Nasr any time to recover in the second half as Lima found the net again when he whipped in a low drive to the right of Esmail.
The Blue Wave refused to give up with a series of attacks, but the home side clamped down in defence and should have added a couple more were it not for some wayward shooting.
