Al Wasl score first full points of UAE League this season

Al Wasl hadn't won before yesterday and the pressure kept piling on the high-profile Guimaraes, who led Costa Rica to two successive World Cups in 2002 and 2006, to deliver.

On Wednesday, Guimaraes told Gulf News how he had urged his men to step up the aggression against Dhafra. And, after playing out a dour first half, Al Wasl did exactly what was asked of them.

Oliveira broke the deadlock in the 52nd minute as he tapped in from close range following a goalmouth melee. His second goal was a work of art as he collected the ball in the centre of the field and darted to the left all by himself.

Morale-boosting win

Oliveira then skipped past Ali Sultan and Juma Khaer to drill the ball in past a hapless Abdul Basit Mohammad, who could only watch as the ball bulged the net behind him in the Dhafra goal.

Guimaraes said: "We needed that win because a win always brings calm and confidence to a team. We are in a good mood to prepare for our next game [with Al Nasr] now. "

At a glance

Goals: Alexandre Oliveira (52nd, 58th)

Yellow Cards: Mahmoud Qassim (Dhafra), Ahmad Khalfan (Wasl), Saeed Al Kas (Wasl)

Substitutions:

Al Wasl: Saeed Al Kas for Ahmad Khalfan; Omran Abdul Rahman for Alexandre Oliveira; Douglas Dos Santos for Blas Perez.

Al Dhafra: Hamad Abdul Rahman for Mahmoud Qasim; Hussain Suhail Abdulaye Cisse.