Al Nasr’s momentum in the Arabian Gulf League title race has been checked as Fujairah rallied to claim a hard-fought 1-1 draw on Friday night.
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Ivan Jovanovic’s men had seemed set to make it three wins from four games after striker Salem Saleh’s well-worked, first-half opener. But their resolute hosts refused to back down at Fujairah Stadium, a valiant display gaining reward on 76 minutes as visiting defender Mubarak Saeed headed into his own goal.
The draw moved Nasr temporarily up to second, though Ahli – the side they usurped – can go eight points clear of them if they win their three games in hand and leaders Al Ain are a huge nine points away on the same matches played.
Playmaker Luis Jimenez had already struck the crossbar from a free-kick by the time team-mate Saleh tapped in on 33 minutes. His second goal since a summer switch from Al Wahda came after a smart move between the afforementioned Chile international and winger Jonathan Pitroipa.
Mid-table Fujairah have proved tough opponents in their second AGL campaign and they earned a share of the spoils with less than 15 minutes left on the clock.
Midfielder Khalil Khameis’ whipped set-piece caused chaos at the back, Saeed erroneously flicking in as goalkeeper Ahmed Shambieh failed to reach the ball in time.
Meanwhile, the Dubai derby spoils were shared as high-flyers Al Wasl and Al Shabab played out a 1-1 draw at Zabeel Stadium.
The clash between the fourth-placed hosts and fifth-placed visitors was as balanced as the table suggested. Shabab were the first to draw blood, Moldova forward Henrique Luvannor sliding in his third goal in three games at the back post.
Their lead should have been strengthened further by Brazil forward Jo, who was guilty of a string of misses.
This profligacy first looked to have been punished when Wasl forward Fabio De Lima nodded in, only for his leveller to be ruled out for a push. But he wasn’t to be denied in the 43rd minute, expertly heading in Hugo Viana’s free-kick. The game fizzled out from that point, a dull second half ending in a stalemate.
