Al Nasr, Al Wasl share the spoils in Dubai derby

DUBAI - With both sides perched at the top of the embryonic Group A standings in the Arabian Gulf Cup, hopes were somewhat high pre-match that these two rivals could bring out the best in each other in their respective quests for pool-phase supremacy.

 Al Nasr and 10-man Al Wasl toiled away to a share of the spoils in this dire derby-day draw at Al Maktoum Stadium on Friday evening.
With both sides perched at the top of the embryonic Group A standings in the Arabian Gulf Cup, hopes were somewhat high pre-match that these two rivals could bring out the best in each other in their respective quests for pool-phase supremacy.
However, those lofty aspirations off the pitch ultimately were not matched by the action on it, where the two teams produced a forgettable encounter that failed to live up to its big-match billing.
The visitors should really have taken the lead with the game's first notable chance in the 12th minute.
Fabio Lima broke down the right byline and crossed in for Hassan Mohammed, who contrived to skew his mishit attempt up and over the crossbar from point-blank range.
Nasr duly hit back down the other end, with Jires Kembo Ekoko unsuccessfully appealing for a penalty against Hassan Ameen prior to Nilmar spurning two opportunities to break the deadlock.
The Brazilian forward couldn't quite turn home Kembo Ekoko's cutback initially and, moments later, he forced an instinctive save out of Rashed Ali following more good work by Ahmed Ibrahim and the Blue Wave's creator-in-chief Kembo Ekoko again.
A snap volley from Nasr's Congolese-French forward sailed harmlessly wide of Ali's far post on the half hour mark, which signalled the first of the scheduled two water breaks.
Nasr had been getting a lot of joy down Wasl's left flank and that trend continued for the remainder of the first half.
Jimenez found Kembo Ekoko in plenty of space on the wing and his low delivery somehow evaded Tariq Ahmed and Nilmar at the back post and was put out of play by Cheetahs captain Waheed Ismail.
From the ensuing corner, Wasl failed to clear their lines and Ahmed smashed haplessly over Ali's bar from inside the six-yard box.
Nasr had edged what first-half fare there was on show and they continued on in the same vein in the second period. Ivan Jovanovic's men increasingly pressed for that elusive opener and they almost found it just before the hour.
Kembo Ekoko, who had switched out to the left wing after the restart, surged down to the dead-ball line once more and fizzed the ball invitingly across for another new recruit in Luis Jimenez.
The Chilean-Palestinian midfielder connected with a sweetly-struck first-time volley that seemed destined to ripple in the back of Wasl's net. Nonetheless, Ali showed sharp reflexes to keep out the effort low down at his near post.
That opening naturally spurred on the hosts and this tussle became more open as a consequence, with Wasl looking to counter every time Nasr went on the offensive.
There was very little by way of end product though and Jimenez was booked for simulation after apparently diving to earn a spot-kick four minutes from full-time.
The already-booked Abdullah Saleh also found his name being taken for a foul on second-half substitute Rashed Mohammed shortly thereafter and with the second yellow came a subsequent red.
alex@khaleejtimes.com