Dubai: Neighbours Al Ahli and Al Shabab were joined by Sharjah as the three biggest winners at the end of the third round of action in the Arabian Gulf Cup held over the weekend.
Sharjah thrashed newcomers Dibba 4-1, Al Shabab got the better of a resolute Al Jazira 2-1 while Al Ahli defeated defending champions Al Nasr 2-0 with both goals coming from their Brazilian star striker Rodrigo Lima.
That late night result left Al Ahli coach Cosmin Olaroiu thrilled at the prospect of an evolution of a “second string side” emanating from his bench. Lima continued with his unbroken scoring spree to take his tally for his new club to ten goals, in the process helping the Red Knights to join Al Wasl at the top of Group A.
Lima, who signed for the Red Knights from Portuguese side Benfica, was on target twice within four minutes on either side of half-time to give Al Ahli full points. Lima first nodded in a corner kick in the 44th minute, and then added a second through a low volley past Mohammad Esmail in the Al Nasr goal three minutes into the second half.
The result took Al Ahli at the top of Group A along with Al Wasl with seven points each, while defending champions Al Nasr remained stuck in third place with four points after three matches.
Dwarfed last season with limited playing options from his reserve bench, Olaroiu has now turned the corner and is enjoying the luxury of a rustled up second string formation. The Romanian had a make-shift side built around his foreign trio of Everton Ribeiro, Rodrigo Lima and Moussa Sow as core members.
“As individuals, Al Nasr was a better side. But we played as a team,” Olaroiu told media.
“This is an important win for our morale especially because the three points have come through a second string team. All of my team played well tonight against a superior team. We created more chances and I am happy with this ‘B’ side as they were positive, showed the right spirit and the correct motivation till the end,” he added.
Al Ahli next host Sharjah in their third round match of the Arabian Gulf League (AGL) on October 15 before turning their focus to the home leg of the AFC Champions League against Saudi Arabia’s Al Hilal on October 20.
Al Nasr coach Ivan Jovanovic was disappointed with the outcome. “This was not the game we expected or wanted to play. But this is how we played and it is normal to have a result like this. We view all games with the same seriousness and losing is never good for the team. We are disappointed,” Jovanovic said.
“We will see what we need to do to improve from here on,” he added.
