Dubai: Al Shabab celebrated former Brazilian World Cup striker Jo’s first goal for his new club with a hard-fought 3-2 win over visiting Dibba, while Al Nasr snatched full points through Nilmar's late goal against Bani Yas in the opening round matches of the Arabian Gulf Cup late on Thursday.
Jo, the 28-year-old former Manchester City and Everton star who was a surprising signing for the Al Mamzar side this season, poked home through the legs of Dibba goalkeeper Humaid Abdullah in the 17th minute, only to see the visitors snatch an equalizer with one minute left for the break with an unmarked Khalifa Ebrahim volleying home a free kick from the right.
The visitors took the lead through Boris Kabi in the 66th minute while Henrique Luvannor headed in the equalizer four minutes later and then tapped into an empty goal in the 82nd to save Al Shabab the blushes in this Group B encounter.
With the humidity once again dissuading free-flowing football, both sides got a chance each at testing the goalkeepers early in the match. First it was Jo finding Humaid Abdullah in his path in the 15th minute and a minute later Bakary Kone saw his attempt go straight into Salem Abdullah’s hands.
However, the home team managed the first goal in the 17th minute as Luvannor turned provider for Jo to evade the off-side trap and poke home. The home side fell back defending and this gave Dibba enough opportunity to settle down and find gaps in the Al Shabab defence. They celebrated close calls on at least four occasions: in the 22nd minute when a Khalifa Ebrahim header whizzed past the target, a shot from Kone landed into Abdullah’s hands in the 27th, Boris Kabi shot meekly five minutes later and then the Al Shabab goalkeeper tipped a shot from skipper Faisal Ahmad in the 40th minute.
With a minute to go for the half-time break, Khalifa Ebrahim volleyed home stylishly following a free kick from outside the area to restore parity.
The Al Shabab goal fell a second time when Ali Mohammad burst into the penalty area and laid a superb ball despite losing his balance to provide Kabi with an easy tap-in in the 66th minute and give Dibba the lead for the first time.
That goal seemed to awaken the home side from their slumber as they bagged the equalizer in the 70th minute when Ahmad Sulaiman Ali sent in a pin-point cross for Henrique Luvannor to head past Abdullah on the Dibba goal.
And then eight minutes from full time Luvannor nudged into an empty net after Abdullah had spilled a shot from substitute Mohammad Juma Eid to celebrate full points.
In the second match, Al Nasr returned home with full points with Nilmar’s 85th minute strike just enough for full points in their Group A encounter.
Results:
Group B: Al Shabab x Dibba 3-2
Group A: Bani Yas x Al Nasr 0-1
