Sebastian Tagliabue's brace continued his remarkable scoring spree as Al Wahda boosted their Asian Champions League aspirations with a come-from-behind 3-1 win at Al Dhafra, in a hot-tempered fixture featuring three red cards.
The Argentine has now registered a sensational 10 goals in four Arabian Gulf League matches, after his pair and an unlikely Hussain Fadel effort at Hamdan Bin Zayed Al Nahyan Stadium saw the capital side move level on points with fourth-placed Sharjah with a game in hand.
A victory in the extra fixture would move Wahda up to third, one point above Al Jazira.
Referee Fahad Al Kassar Banihammad played a prominent role, awarding one penalty apiece and issuing three cards – one for Wahda and two for the hosts.
Makhete Diop had put Dhafra ahead from the spot with his 21st AGL goal of a prolific campaign, but his team were then outclassed by their red-hot opponents.
With both Al Sharjah and Al Shabab dropping points, and the bottom two to come in their final league fixtures, Wahda are well on course for a spot in the continent's elite club competition next season.
Conversely, the result all but ended Dhafra's hopes of making the ACL.
A spicy first half had seen the sides share two red cards and two penalties, with Dhafra's Bandar Al Ahbabi and Wahda's Adel Abdulla the centre of the action.
Dhafra striker Diop struck after Abdulla was harshly adjudged to have handled Al Ahbabi's cross. The main protagonists were involved again 10 minutes from half-time, when the latter felled Abdulla in the box to allow the prolific Sebastian Tagliabue to score from the spot.
Minutes later, with tempers at boiling point, Abdulla and Al Ahbabi clashed on the touchline with referee Fahad Al Kassab Banihammad having no choice but to dismiss both players.
Wahda excelled in the open spaces in the second, with playmakers Ismaeil Matar and Damian Rodrigo DIaz prominent throughout.
Jose Peseiro's side went ahead soon after the break when captain Fadel struck just his second AGL goal of the campaign after following in a Eisa Ahmed flick on from a corner.
The fiery goal exploded once more when Tagliabue tapped in after unselfish play from DIaz. Dhafra screamed that play should have been stopped with Diop prone on the floor, with Hasan Al Hammadi receiving his marching orders for dissent.
Wahda's numerical advantage saw them ease through the final stages, with the full-time whistle granting them a hard-earned fourth successive victory to move ACL entry within their grasp.
