The Arabian Gulf League rarely creates chaos on this scale. Dismissals on either side, nine yellow cards and seven goals were witnessed at Al Maktoum Stadium on Friday night as Al Nasr swept to victory against woeful Bani Yas.
The mayhem proved too much for Blue Wave boss Ivan Jovanovic, with the intense Serbian gesticulating wildly as he escaped down the tunnel before his side’s valuable 5-2 win was confirmed.
But with it, a domestic upturn was confirmed. This could yet see the club secure third spot and AFC Champions League qualification no matter what happens in the remainder of their encouraging current continental campaign which looks set for a debut run into the knockout stages.
“I believe that we played a wonderful game,” said Jovanovic. “We must continue to play like this as we have very important games in the league and important games in the AFC Champions League. “A lot of our players had yellow cards, and we lost some important players.”
For the deflated visitors, Dr Abdullah Misfer’s second match in charge brought a dose of reality to contrast the opening 2-1 triumph against high-flying Al Wasl.
They went behind in just the ninth minute as ex-Al Ahli playmaker Luis Jimenez floated in a beautiful free-kick from the edge of the penalty box. It was two for him and his team soon after, lashing in his eighth goal during a successful first campaign across Dubai once a Jires Kembo Ekoko corner struck the post.
Just before the break, Brazil striker Nilmar made it three for his team and 17 for him this term as he found the bottom corner once a lackadaisical Ahmed Haoush freekick was intercepted.
A mad few minutes hinted at an unlikely revival. Defender Masoud Sulaiman was dismissed for a second yellow card for the hosts, with towering Algeria forward Ishak Belfodil then converting a penalty after a nudge from Khamis on Yousef Jaber.
All hope for the mid-table Sky Blues was soon squashed. Forward Bandar Al Ahbabi was sent off for scything down Jimenez, allowing Khamis to make it 4-1 from the penalty spot.
A header from substitute Ahmed Khameis followed, before UAE centre midfielder Amer Abdulrahman placed past Ahmed Shambieh at the other end to produce a stylish ending to a frantic encounter.
