Dubai: Caio Canedo Correa’s brace handed Al Wasl a 2-1 come-from-behind win at home to Sharjah in matchday 21 of the Arabian Gulf League (AGL) on Friday.
Wanderley Santos Monteiro had put the visitors ahead against the run of play on 38 minutes after converting a one-on-one from Saif Al Shemili’s long ball. But Correa replied with two goals inside a minute before the hour, first heading in Hugo Viana’s cross on 56 minutes and then curling a second from outside the area on 57 minutes.
The win will go a long way towards realising Al Wasl’s dream of a top four finish, especially on a weekend when all three teams above them dropped points. Third-placed Al Shabab lost 3-1 at home to Emirates Club, fourth-placed Al Wahda lost 1-0 away to Fujairah and fifth-placed Al Nasr were held to a 2-2 draw away to Al Dhafra.
Al Wasl are now sixth in the league just three points off fourth with five games remaining.
In Friday’s other games, second-placed Al Jazira kept the pressure on league-leaders Al Ain with a 3-0 win at home to bottom-of-the-league Ittihad Kalba. Second half goals from Manuel Lanzini, Jonathon Pitroipa and Ali Mabkhout secured the victory.
Al Ain had earlier beaten ten-man Al Ahli 1-0 at home on Thursday. Salmeen Khamis was sent off for the visitors shortly before Asamoah Gyan struck before the interval.
Third-placed Al Shabab suffered a shock 3-1 defeat at home to Emirates Club on Thursday. Shin Jin-ho and Luiz Henrique fired the visitors in front either side of Mohammad Ayed’s first half sending off for Al Shabab.
The home side then suffered another red card after the interval, before Alexandro Da Silva added Emirates’ third. Eisa Mohammad then sought consolation for Al Shabab before Shin was sent off for the visitors before the end.
Fourth-placed Al Wahda fell to a 1-0 defeat away to Fujairah on Friday thanks to a second half strike from Boubacar Sanogo. And fifth-placed Al Nasr were held to a 2-2 draw away to Al Dhafra.
Despite opening with two in two minutes after the first quarter from Pablo Hernandez and Ebrahima Toure the visitors saw their lead leveled in the second half after goals from Youssuf Kaddioui and Mohammad Al Khoory.
Elsewhere, Ajman held Bani Yas to a 2-2 draw at home. Rafael Crivallero opened the home side’s account early in the first half before two goals for the visitors either side of the interval from Emad Khalili and Joan Verdu, but Boris Kabi restored order and split the points on the hour.
