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Abu Dhabi: Sharjah managed to get back to winning ways thanks to their Brazilian striker Anderson, while runners-up Al Wahda succumbed to their fourth successive defeat in yesterday's week 14 action in the etisalat First Division Football League.
In another encounter, Al Dhafra and Emirates shared four goals and two points. Al Dhafra, who also had a missed penalty against their name, took the lead twice but Emirates equalised to share honours. Al Dhafra have 14 points while Emirates reach 10 though they lie at the bottom.
Both Sharjah and Al Wahda had sacked their coaches and were involved in a keen tussle but the hosts grabbed a goal off a fine header by Anderson in the 30th minute and then held on to earn full points.
Powerhouses
Sharjah are now in fourth place with 22 points while Al Wahda, one of the UAE's football powerhouses, languish in 10th place with just 13 points. In fact, Al Wahda have lost seven matches and this has never happened in the last decade or so since they emerged as a strong force.
A side packed with quite a few UAE national team players, it was another blemish in defence which saw them yield a first-half goal. Anderson positioned himself brilliantly to head home off a cross from the right and that goal seemed to give the jitters to the visitors.
Crossing over after missing a few close chances, including one coming off the post, Al Wahda brought in their star striker Esmail Mattar with about 20 minutes to go. The Abu Dhabi team did manage to pile intense pressure on the Sharjah goal but the hosts threw back the challenge and did threaten through their counter-attacks.
For Sharjah, under their new caretaker coach Wajdy Al Said, yesterday's win halted their two-match losing run.
After beating defending champions Al Wasl, Sharjah let slip their assault on the league title when they lost 0-1 to Al Nasr and then 1-4 to Al Jazira. But yesterday's win puts them back in contention. However, for Al Wahda, the misery continues as the once formidable squad search for answers to their rank form.
While they find themselves low in the league, Al Wahda open their campaign as a UAE representatives in the AFC Champions League next week. They travel to meet Syria's Al Karama and they will really have to reverse their fortunes to win back their pride and fans.
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