DUBAI // The Brazilian Helio Anjos, under pressure after defeats in the first two games, was given a breather as Al Nasr won their first points of the season with a 3-1 victory at Dubai last night. Nasr, blanked 3-0 by Al Jazira and Al Ain in their first two games of the Pro League, broke through against the promoted side with second-half goals from Carlos Tenorio, Ismael Bangoura and Leonardo Lima, the last two scoring after Michael N'dri's 65th-minute equaliser.
With both the coaches, Anjos of Al Nasr and Dubai's Ayman al Ramadi, starting the game from the stands because they forgot to bring their accreditation passes, the game clearly lacked direction. Anjos got his pass during the break, but al Ramadi managed the entire game from the stands. With both teams clearly struggling in the heat and humidity, the game lacked fluidity and most of the play was concentrated around the centre line.
Breaking the monotony, N'dri earned a penalty in the 33rd minute when Masoud Hassan lunged into him, but N'dri's weak attempt was blocked by the Nasr goalkeeper Ismail Rabea. Tenorio, however, did not miss his chance from the penalty spot in the 54th minute. Nasr earned the spot kick after Mohammed al Balooshi had brought down Ali Abbas. N'dri equalised 11 minutes later, rising high over his marker to nod home al Balooshi's cross from the right, but the parity lasted only till the 76th minute when Bangoura's diving header put the visitors ahead for a second time. Lima tapped home the third two minutes from time.
@Email:arizvi@thenational.ae Man of the match: Carlos Tenario (Al Nasr)
