Ibrahima Toure scored the winner before being sent off as Al Nasr came from behind to beat second-placed Al Shabab 2-1 as both sides finished the match with 10-men in the Arabian Gulf League (AGL) yesterday.
Edgar Bruno Da Silva had given the visitors the lead in the 25th minute but Habib Al Farden (44) and Toure (79) scored the goals for Al Nasr, who now sit in fifth position with 38 points.
Following a melee with 10 minutes remaining, Toure and Haydarov Azizbek were given their marching orders by the referee.
Al Shabab remain in second place despite the loss, 15 points behind champions Al Ahli.
With both teams lacking the firing edge in the opening stages of the match, the first real opportunity came in the 20th minute as Mahmoud Khamis had the first shot on target.
Five minutes later, Bruno’s chip was deflected off Helal Saeed with Ahmad Shambieh unable to clearthe ball.
The home side went into the second half on level terms as Al Fardan was first to react following Ismail Rabee’s save from Khamis’ free-kick.
After Al Fardan had a goal ruled out for offside, Toure tapped in Alhusain Saleh’s cross in what proved to be the final goal.
Elsewhere yesterday, Sharjah reduced the gap on Al Shabab with a 3-1 win over Bani Yas.
Yousif Saeed Juma scored a brace with Jose Carlos Ferreira also on the scoresheet for the visitors, who are now three points behind Al Shabab.
Fawaz Awana Al Musaibi found his side’s only goal of the game and Bani Yas remain in ninth position with 30 points.
Meanwhile, Sebastian Tagliabue scored all four goals as Al Wahda thrashed Ajman 4-1 to remain behind Sharjah on goal-difference.
Tagliabue got his hat-trick in the 65th minute and got his fourth after Bakari Kone replied for the visitors.
Elsewhere, Al Dhafra earned a 5-1 away win at Dubai.
