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Dubai: The defending champions Al Wasl beat Al Shabab 2-1 in the etisalat First Division League 10th stage at the Al Wasl Stadium on Sunday.
Leaders Al Shabab, despite suffering their second defeat, stayed on top of the standings. However, the gap has narrowed down to two points after second-placed Al Shaab snatched a 3-2 win over Hatta. The difference could be reduced to one point if Al Jazira beat Al Dhafra today in Abu Dhabi.
It was a morale-boosting win for Al Wasl, who are in seventh place with 13 points. However, they have a tough task in hand to return to the top and retain their title.
Brazilian coach Ze Mario of Al Wasl pushed his three Brazilians - Oliviera, Diaz and the new signing Rogero - up front. And the move created plenty of trouble to the Al Shabab defence.
Poor display
On the other hand, the Al Shabab strikers Salim Sa'ad, Surour Salim and Iranian Jawad Qazimian were off colour yesterday, and with playmaker Eman Mob'ali also performing poorly, their misery was only compounded.
They lost their magic touch and squandered several sitters in front of the Al Wasl goal.
Eissa Mohammad scored the first for Al Shabab with a powerful header off a corner kick in the 20th minute. Majid Naser, the Al Wasl custodian, had to be blamed for the goal as he jumped the wrong way.
The Brazilian trio's fierce attacks paid dividends when Diaz levelled in the 29th minute, off a cross from Tariq Darwish crossed from the right.
Rogero compensated for his earlier lapse, when the free-kick hit the crossbar, by scoring the winner a minute before the break. His powerful shot went straight to the left corner with Esmail Rabea reduced to a mere spectator.
Al Wasl defended well in the second and kept the Al Shabab strikers from levelling the scores. Salim Sa'ad, Surour, Eissa Obaid lost many scoring chances as the Al Wasl defence withstood the onslaught until the end of the match.
In the second game, Al Shaab beat hosts Hatta 3-2. Ali Samera, Nabeel Ebrahim, Saeed Tarish scored for Al Shaab, while Ahmada hit the two goals for Hatta.
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