There have not been many nights like this for Nilmar clad in blue.
The striker has stuttered through his debut campaign at Al Nasr, providing a figure of frustration rather than joy.
But a deft flick worthy of a player in possession of 23 caps for Brazil changed the perception, for one match at least. With it, the Al Maktoum Stadium witnessed a winning return of AFC Champions League-football after a three-year absence as Iran’s Sepahan were eventually seen off 2-0.
The match was terrible, its quality not befitting the continent’s premier club competition. Blue Wave boss Ivan Jovanovic will care little.
Revenge for the opening 2-0 surrender in Iran last Tuesday has seen his charges back in contention to escape from Group A. The gloom caused by Saturday’s 5-4 humiliation against Sharjah and failure to defend the President’s Cup was also swept away.
Their Iranian opponents lifted last term’s Persian Gulf Pro League title, yet they came into this double-header on the back of a 11-match winless run.
This form was confounded as they dominated at Fooladshahr Stadium. Igor Stimac’s charges couldn’t repeat the trick, this time.
Blue Wave boss Ivan Jovanovic will be delighted his team have stemmed the flow of a barren run of results.
A dismal first half saw both teams miss a glorious chance apiece.
Blue Wave skipper Tariq Ahmed blazed over when presented with a clear shot at goal by lively winger Jonathan Pitroipa. At the other end, wide man Hossein Fazeli wasted a golden opportunity as he stumbled into Bosnia and Herzegovina attacking midfielder Senijad Ibricic’s cross.
The stage was then set for Nilmar, though he seemed reticent to claim the limelight. Groans cascaded down as he skipped over a presentable cross on 56 minutes.
This made what followed seconds later all the more remarkable.
With his back to goal and under pressure from goalkeeper Shahab Gordan, an instinctive touch from left-back Hussain Abbas’ cross caused the ball to spin majestically home for his 14th goal in 26 appearances since a summer move from Internacional.
Further chances then went begging before the seal was put on it by Pitroipa’s cool injury-time penalty, sending Gordan the wrong way after substitute Salem Saleh was felled by him.
