Al Nasr derail Tractorsazi Tabriz

Dubai - Ivan Jovanovic's men mowed down Iran's Tractorsazi Tabriz 4-1 in an ill-tempered first leg

Al Nasr seem to be taking their new environs quite well, like a fish takes to water. Having made it to the Round of 16 of the AFC Champions League for the first time in three attempts, the Blue Wave showed that they belong.
Ivan Jovanovic's men mowed down Iran's Tractorsazi Tabriz 4-1 in an ill-tempered first leg at the Al Maktoum Stadium on Tuesday night to raise visions of a quarterfinal berth in the continental competition.
A hostile return leg awaits the Oud Metha club when they make the trip to the Yadegar Emam Stadium on May 24.
Al Nasr striker Nilmar had an early end to the game after he limped off with an ankle injury and was substituted by Salem Saleh on 11 minutes.
And in hindsight, that turned out to be a master stroke as the Emirati striker went on to score a brace on 41 and 77 minutes after Ahmed Ibrahim had put the Blue Wave ahead on 14 minutes. Mahmoud Khamis wrapped up the commanding win with the fourth, a minute from the end. The Iranians had the first look when, after a tussle at the byline, Augusto Cesar crossed from the right but Farzad Hatami's dipping header went wide.
After that it was pretty much the Blue Wave all the way in the half.
And just three minutes after that Tractosazi foray, Al Nasr nudged ahead from the first attempt that they had. Mahmoud Khamis' inch perfect cross from left was headed away by defender Khaled Shafiei but Ahmed Ibrahim, who was lurking on the right, ran in and fired a scorcher into the net.
That was the fillip that they needed as the Blue Wave tried to go for the kill. Captain Luis Antonio Jimenez weaved his way through from the left but the Tractorsazi defence managed to clear it, but not far enough, as it fell into Salem Saleh's path. But the striker flashed it over the cross bar on 17 minutes.
Tractorsazi had an attempt on the half hour but Bakhtiar Rahmani's volley lacked venom to cause any alarms for Al Nasr shot stopper Ahmad Shambih, who collected it with ease.
Tractor went on to enjoy a good period with a number of sorties but their most threatening one came through Saeid Aghaei.
The midfielder chipped one from the left of box and Esam Dhahi tried to deflect it away with a header. Farzad Hatami made a desperate slide but couldn't get a touch.
After a bit of a lull, Al Nasr were back and they went on to add a cushion to that lead. Jires Kembo-Ekoko's corner ricocheted off teammate Esam Dhahi and Salem Saleh headed it home from close range with four minutes left in the half.
There was a minor skirmish as the players were heading into the tunnel but it was brought under control. After the break, Tractorsazi managed to reduce the margin with Augusto Cesar scoring from a corner on 59 minutes.
But there was to be no stopping Al Nasr as they added the third on 77 minutes with Salem Saleh completing his double by slotting in the rebound after Jimenez's volley hit the far post following a Mahmoud Khamis cross from the left.
And Mahmoud Khamis rounded it off with a stellar solo with his left-footed screamer having the goalkeeper Mohammadreza Akhbari well and truly beaten.
james@khaleejtimes.com