Goal-shy Al Wasl needed just two minutes to end a three-match scoreless run as they surged past Bani Yas to top Group A of the Arabian Gulf Cup.
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Forward Fabio De Lima’s side-footed volley set the Cheetahs off to a flyer on Friday, fellow Brazilian Caio Canedo delightfully punishing a sloppy Mohammed Khalaf goal-kick after the break to secure an easy 2-0 triumph.
Coach Luis Garcia’s Arabian Gulf League high-flyers were awful upon their visit to Zabeel Stadium, international trio Amer Abdulrahman, Mark Milligan and Ishak Belfodil sorely missed. Last term’s semi-finalists now sit bottom of their AG Cup pool on zero points from two games.
Caio, 25, was the star act. His darting run and perfect cross set up countryman De Lima early on, a miscued effort bouncing into the far post.
Misfiring target man Edgar Bruno then contrived to miss two one-on-ones, but Bani Yas were unable to punish his profligacy.
They contributed to their own downfall on the hour mark, Edgar cutting out a brainless goal kick from Khalaf to allow fellow Samba star Caio to chip home his first goal of the season.
