Al Nasr face league sanctions after their Dubai derby with the Pro League champions Al Ahli on Friday night was brought to a temporary halt as their supporters, angry at a disallowed goal, pelted the match officials with anything they could find. It marred a debut victory for Mahdi Ali as Ahli coach and the match commissioner will send his report to the Pro League, whose disciplinary committee will then take a decision about how to punish Al Nasr.
With Ahli leading 2-1, Anouar Diba thought he had equalised in the 87th minute, but the goal was ruled out after referee Farid Ali adjudged Carlos Tenorio to be offside, leading to a petulant display from the fans. Ali, who replaced the sacked Romanian Ioan Andone, was delighted with the victory. "There is not a lot you can do in three days," said Ali, who will return to the national youth team after the end of the season in the 2012 Olympic qualifiers.
"We just tried to bring the team together, worked on the organisation and discipline of the team, in defence and attack. So there is still a lot of work to be done, especially with regards to possession. We did not keep the ball for a long time." Ahmed Khalil, the star of Ali's UAE Under 20 team, was the inspiration for the victory. The striker pounced on a rebound in the 31st minute to give Ahli the lead. And it was his burst of pace that caused him to be fouled in the penalty area - Yousuf Jaber converted the spot-kick after 63 minutes.
Inbetween, Iman Mobali equalised for Nasr with a free-kick seconds after the break. Nasr's Kazim Ali and Hassan Ali of Ahli were sent off in injury time for their second booking in a fractious game that had eight yellow cards. Last night Al Ain were held 1-1 at home by Al Dhafra. @Email:arizvi@thenational.ae Today's games: Al Shabab v Emirates, KO 4.50pm, Al Wasl v Al Wahda, KO 8pm
