Oliveira helps Al Wasl win over Wahda

Dubai: Al Wasl survived a few anxious moments, but Brazilian striker Alexandre Oliveira's solitary second-half strike was enough to hand them a crucial victory over Wahda at Zabeel Stadium late Sunday night.

Wahda dominated possession in the midfield, but it was the hosts who posted the first shot on goal when Alexandre Oliveira's casual, albeit powerful, shot zipped straight into the hands of goalkeeper Adel Al Housani.

Moments later, UAE U-20 World Cup hero Hamdan Al Kamali blocked Saeed Al Kas' header, off a free-kick from the left, on his goal-line.

Wasl survived a few anxious moments minutes later off a corner, but Basheer Saeed's crisp header at the near post crashed straight into the side netting.

Wasl started the second half on a positive note with Oliveira and his countryman Douglas Dos Santos combining well only for the latter to shoot wide from 10 metres out.

Wahda's otherwise prolific striker Fernando Baiano missed a sitter on the hour mark when he beat the offside trap with the Wasl defence desperately appealing for the same. But hesitation from his side allowed his rivals to close him down and in the end all he managed was a weak poke at goal.

Oliveira, who was booked in the first half for diving, refrained from throwing himself to the ground unnecessarily. And he was hugely ineffective until he came up with the breathtaking effort which found the roof of the net.

Moments before Oliveira's 68th minute strike, Al Kas had struck the post with a header. But the Wasl skipper was replaced by Khaled Darwish, who coach Alexandre Oliveira brought in to maintain his side's possession figures.

GOALS: Alexandre Oliveira (68th)

YELLOW CARDS:

Wasl: Alexandre Oliveira, Mohammed Al Shaibah,

Wahda: Mahmoud Khamis, Basheer Saeed, Yaqoub Al Housani

SUBSTITUTIONS:

Wasl: Eisa Ali Mousa, Khaled Darwish, Blas Perez

Wahda: Ahmad Ali, Hassan Mudhafar, Saleh Al Menhali