Bani Yas and Al Nasr score welcome first wins

Dubai: Slow-starters Bani Yas and Al Nasr finally clicked into gear in the fourth round of matches in the Etisalat Pro League, winning their first games of the season 4-1 against Emirates and 2-1 versus Dubai respectively.

It may have been too late for Jorvan Vieira, ousted from his role as Bani Yas coach last Sunday after a poor run of results, but a relieved Walter Zenga was visibly more at ease knowing his side's win had also lifted them off the bottom of the table.

Elsewhere in the week's condensed domestic schedule — due to the Gulf Champions League final between Al Shabab and Al Ahli on Thursday — Al Jazira pulled ahead of the pack with a 1-0 victory at Al Wasl and Al Wahda silenced newly-promoted Ajman with a 1-0 win.

Games between Sharjah and Al Shabab and Al Ahli and Al Ain will be rearranged, but in the mean time Al Jazira sit at the top of the table with ten points from four games with striker Ricardo Oliveira the league's current top-scorer on five.

Antonin Koutouan netted a hat-trick for Bani Yas, but it was Mark Bresciano's winner and first ever goal for Al Nasr which made the biggest impact of the week, as it probably saved Zenga a trip to the boardroom.

Goals on 13 and 15 minutes from Leo Lima and Bresciano rendered Hassan Mohammad's 19th-minute effort obsolete. Al Nasr kept the lead as Dubai had two goals disallowed on 43 and 86 minutes.

‘A wonderful game'

Zenga said: "Well done to my players, who played a wonderful game. They started with good mentality, with pride for their shirt and they showed how they can play. With the lead they controlled the second half and I have to say thanks to all of them for their great efforts."

Looking forward, Zenga added: "This motivation should be there every time in the mentality of the club. I don't think with one win we are now the best, likewise one loss won't make us the weakest.

"In my mind I try to prepare to win - everyone at the club should start to think this way.

"They should take great satisfaction from their job, it's a wonderful job to have. They just have to train and stay in shape to play one-and-a-half hours a week."

With another round of international matches on the way and then the Etisalat Cup, the league now steps aside until November 25.

Results

(Wednesday)

Bani Yas 4 Emirates 1

Al Wasl 0 Al Jazira 1

(Thursday)

Dubai 1 Al Nasr 2

Al Wahda 1 Ajman 0