Shaab victorious over Wahda

Goodwin Atram fired a hat trick to lead Al Shaab to their first points in the Etisalat Pro League under new coach Ayman al Ramadi and hand out Al Wahda their first defeat in 13 matches. The Ghanaian international scored the winner on the stroke of time, barely a minute after Ismail Matar's shot had crashed against the post at the other end, for Shaab to earn a pulsating 3-2 result last night. Wahda were the favourites and travelled full strength with the return of the club's key players from national duty, and the captain Abdulraheem Jumaa and the Moroccan international Mourad Ainy, both having recovered from injuries. They drew first blood when Mohammed al Shehhi shot past the charging Mohammed Ali after the Brazilian Pinga had split the Shaab defence in the 22nd minute. Atram struck the equaliser 10 minutes from the break, controlling a long ball and then outrunning Toufeeq Abdulrazzaq before drilling it into the far corner of the net. He put the home side ahead seven minutes into the second half after Rashid al Dosari sent a through pass following an interception. Pinga cancelled the lead with a superb free kick in the 70th minute and when the game looked like ending in a draw, Atram came out of the blues to strike the winner. Iman Mobali struck and injury time goal to give Al Wasl a face saving 2-1 result over promoted Al Khaleej and Al Nasr thrashed Al Dhafra 4-1. Waleed Mourad gave Wasl a 6th minute lead and Patrick Kazadi cancelled it from a spot kick past the hour. Nasr went on the rampage after an own goal had given them a 16th minute lead. Mohammed Ibrahim struck twice and Iranian Mehrzad Madanchi added another to give them a commanding 4-0 lead past the hour. Rasoul Khatibi scored a late consolation goal for Dhafra. apassela@thenational.ae