Dubai: Arabian Gulf League leaders Sharjah continued their 100 per cent start to the season with a 2-1 win away to Shabab Al Ahli on Thursday.
Jaime Ayovi put the hosts in front after the half-hour, before Ryan Mendes and Igor Coronado scored either side of the interval.
Ayovi followed up on Mauro Diaz’s initial shot, spilt by keeper Adel Al Hosani, to tap in Shabab Ahli’s opener on 36 minutes.
Sharjah equalised a minute before half-time, however, when Mendes barged his way through on a run from midfield, passing five players, before nutmegging the shot-stopper Majed Nasser.
The visitors pulled ahead soon after the break when Coronado chipped in from a freekick just outside the box on 53 minutes, it came after he was brought down on the edge of the area by Mohammad Marzouq.
Sharjah are now on nine points, from the opening three games of the season, having earlier beaten Al Dhafra 4-0 away and Al Nasr 6-3 at home.
Mendes and Coronado, who both joined Sharjah over the summer, have now scored at least a goal in every league game they have featured in.
In Thursday’s other early game, Emirates beat Dibba 3-2 at home. Saeed Salem headed in Abou Bacar Sylla’s cross on 42 minutes to put Emirates in front. Yaseen Mahmoud then equalised for Dibba on 82 minutes, before Amer Omar and Waleed Ambar both scored on 86 and 94 minutes — the first of which was from the penalty spot. Dibba refused to give up hope with Ahmad Ebrahim, getting another on 97 minutes, but by then it could only serve as a consolation.
Defending champions Al Ain travel to Al Nasr from 5.30pm on Friday, followed by Kalba’s trip to Al Dhafra from 5.40pm. The late games see Al Wasl travel to Al Wahda from 8.15pm and Fujairah take on Ajman at home also at 8.15pm.
