Football: Wanderley marks return with winner

Dubai - Al Sharjah edged past Al Oruba 3-2 to make it to the last eight.

Brazilian striker Wanderley revealed that it was tough sitting out and not be involved in the action but was glad to put that behind him and marked his return in style.
The 28-year-old Wanderley returned from the three-month AFC suspension for using a "forged and falsified document," by helping Al Nasr enter the quarterfinals of the President's Cup.
The former Al Sharjah striker scored the winner on 78 minutes as the Blue Wave dug deep to see off First Division side Dubai FC by a solitary goal at the Rashid Stadium on Tuesdaynight.
"I'm happy, thank God, Alhamdulillah," Wanderley said after the game.
"I would like to thank Al Nasr for the support as well as the players and my family. I tried to do my best and we did a good job. I hope we can continue this. It was very difficult (not playing) but I worked very hard in training. I trained at home because I know my responsibility towards the club and the fans," he added.
Elsewhere, at the Ittihad Kalba Stadium, Al Sharjah edged past Al Oruba 3-2 to make it to the last eight.
Al Nasr could heave a sigh of relief as it was by no means easy against a stoic and determined Dubai FC, who hunted their opponents with quick play and man marking.
The Oud Metha club had the fair share of exchanges but Dubai FC did give the Al Nasr backline more than a couple of anxious moments.
Al Nasr tested the Dubai FC defence first up on three minutes with Mubarak Saeed's volley deflecting off the backline following Jires Kembo Ekoko's corner.
Four minutes later, Wanderley was dispossessed by the defence before he could prove to be a threat. But Al Nasr's best chance though came on 12 minutes when Burkina Faso striker Jonathan Pitroipa shot straight into goalkeeper Yousef Ahmed after being put in by captain Tariq Ahmed.
Much later, Ekoko saw his fine effort sail over the cross bar on 22 minutes.
Dubai FC's first piece of action came close to the half hour mark but Mohammed Ismael's curling freekick perhaps curled a bit too much and whizzed agonizingly close to the left post.
Ekoko then saw his attempt from the left of the box, ricochet off Mohammed Ismael.
Dubai FC made a fist of it for a large part of the second half but couldn't slip through the Al Nasr defence. And just when things seemed to be looking good, things went worse for them as Mohammed Malallah was sent off following a second booking on 76 minutes.
And that played into Al Nasr's hands as Masoud Sulaiman floated one in and though Wanderley fumbled with the header, he made amends by firing a left-footed volley home.
Al Nasr were then denied a second by the woodwork after Ekoko's screamer thudded into the right post, six minutes from time.
james@khaleejtimes.com