Al Nasr score resounding win against Al Ain

Dubai: Al Nasr scored a resounding win in the etisalat Cup beating Al Ahli 3-1 at the Al Ahli stadium to revive hopes of reaching the semifinals as the second best team in the three groups.

The Al Nasr victory gave Al Ain the top place in group C with 13 points and a place in the semifinals.

Al Ahli stayed second in the group with seven points and Al Nasr with six points.

Each team have one match left, Al Ain meet Al Ahli and Al Nasr host Ajman, and both matches will be held on Saturday.

Abdul Rahman Khalfan, the Al Nasr striker who returned after staying one season with Ajman when they were in the second division, scored three goals against Al Ahli.

The first came in the first half from a free kick, the ball went straight to the top corner of the net leaving the Al Ahli custodian Ali Saeed helpless.

Iranian Mehrzad Maadanchi created two excellent passes to Khalfan to score the second and third goals in the second half.

Egyptian Hosni Abdo Rabo scored a consolation for Al Ahli before the end.

Despite Al Ahli playing with their four foreign players: Brazilians Cezar and Bare, Iranian Middawdi and Egyptian Abdo Rabo, they failed to beat their traditional rivals. Al Nasr played one of their best matches so far, and it was a good start for their new coach, German Frank Pajelsdorf.

Al Jazira scored a last gasp winner to beat Al Khaleej 2-1 and continued their winning streak.

Al Jazira top group B with 15 points from five straight wins.

Khalid Ali scored the winner in the last seconds of injury time. Nigerian Abbas Moya scored first for Al Khaleej and Brazilian Sobis levelled for Al Jazira. Both goals came in the first half from penalty kicks.

In group A, Sharjah and Al Dhafra played a goalless draw.