Jimenez treble sinks Al Wasl in season ender

Dubai: A hat-trick from Luiz Jimenez ended Al Ahli’s season in style with a 6-2 thrashing of Al Wasl at Maktoum Stadium on Saturday.

Converting set-ups from Achille Emana, Basheer Saeed and Grafite on minutes 20, 44 and 55, the want-away Chilean made a conscious effort to flaunt his talents before the final whistle of the 2011/12 season and possibly his last game for the club.

For the newly crowned Etisalat Cup champions it was business as usual, but for Diego Maradona, fielding an experienced Wasl squad, it was a bad end to his first season in charge, slumping to ninth if Bani Yas beat Sharjah at home on Sunday.

Al Wasl opened on five minutes via Sultan Rashid who hit top left after beating Yousuf Mohammad and Basheer Saeed from Fahad Hadeed’s midfield pass.

But Al Ahli equalised on 20 minutes after Achille Emana’s cross from the right found Luis Jimenez on the edge of the box. Rounding Jabir Abdullah and Obaid Nasser, the Chilean slotted his first home.

Putting themselves further in control Al Ahli went ahead on 26 minutes when Jimenez’ left corner was tucked in by Yousuf Mohammad who blindsided Jabir Abdullah at the back post.

Al Wasl returned on 33 minutes when Hassan Ali’s freekick was nodded in by Ammar Mubarak for the equaliser.

But hopes were again dashed on 44 minutes when a long ball from Basheer Saeed found Jimenez free in the box. Grabbing his second of the game and the lead for Ahli before half time, Jimenez converted despite pressure – and an apparent touch in the goal - from Jabir Abdullah.

Tariq Hassan’s foul in the box on Esmail Al Hammadi gave Al Ahli a 53rd minute penalty converted bottom right by Grafite. Then on 55 minutes Grafite’s cross to Jimenez completed the hat-trick.

Esmail Hammadi added a sixth on 68 minutes after receiving Basheer Saeed’s long ball and beating Tariq Hassan and Jabir Abdullah in the box.