Reigning Arabian Gulf Cup champions Al Nasr are in real danger of failing to make this year’s knockout stages after Rodrigo Pimpao’s stoppage time goal gave Emirates Club a dramatic 2-1 win on Monday night.
The result leaves the Blue Wave as one of four sides locked on seven points at the top of Group A, but as Al Ahli and Al Wasl have three still to play and just one for Ivan Jovanovic’s men, the chances of retaining their trophy appear slim.
The visitors broke the deadlock in the 54th minute with former Emirates loanee Jamal Maroof running onto an excellent ball from summer signing Nilmar to slot home.
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Emirates hit back just four minutes later through a stunning Waleed Ambar strike.
A barrage of Emirates pressure paid off in the 91st minute when Pimpao squeezed a shot under Nasr ‘keeper Ahmad Shambieh to snatch the win.
Bani Yas’ chances of making the semi-finals also appear over after they suffered their third straight defeat of the competition, beaten 1-0 by Al Dhafra.
Hussain Abbas Juma has started for Al Nasr against Emirates, less than 24 hours after playing & scoring for the UAE Olympic Team in Doha
— Lauren Doble (@LaurenDoble) November 9, 2015
Abdulrahman Yousuf headed the hosts in front after just 10 minutes and even though the Sky Blues laid siege to the Dhafra goal in the second half, they were unable to find an equaliser.
Both sides had a man sent off with Bani’s Abdulsalam Mohammed first dismissed before Ibrahim Saeed collected a second yellow for the Western Knights.
Laurent Banide’s men move on to six points and still have a chance to emerge from Group A.
