Al Rawahi notches Fujairah's winner against Al Wasl

Dubai - The Red Wolves beat The Cheetahs by a solitary goal in the Arabian Gulf Cup

Super sub Salim Saif Al Rawahi struck the winner as Fujairah notched their first victory in the Arabian Gulf Cup on Friday night.
Al Rawahi, who came on for Khaled Abdulla on 26 minutes, won the one-on-one battle with shot stopper Humaid Abdulla, as The Red Wolves beat Al Wasl by a solitary goal at the Zabeel Stadium.
Coming on the back of a 3-1 defeat to Al Wahda in their Group B opener and a 2-2 stalemate against Ajman last time out, it was a huge relief for Majid Bougherra's side.
Meanwhile, Laurentiu Reghecampf, Bougherra's opposite, will have a lot of work to do after The Cheetahs were outdone by a stoic Fujairah.
Elsewhere, in the Western Region, Al Dhafra and promoted club Khor Fakkan played out a goalless draw at the Hamdan bin Zayed Al Nahyan Stadium.
Al Rawahi may have taken the accolades after tucking in the winner but it was Jhonnattann Benites who was the game changer.
The 30-year-old Brazilian midfielder added a bit more bite to Fujairah after coming on, on the hour, and also provided the assist.
It was a slow-burner of a start with both sides keeping deeper defensive lines and relying more on the counter. Fujairah had the first few opportunities with Fernando Gabriel going close but only to see Abdulla pull off an airborne save to deny him.
The visitors looked dangerous and pressed hard but Al Wasl slowly found their feet. Welliton Soares, who joined The Cheetahs from Sharjah, saw his left footer go wide after being put through on 37 minutes. Then, Lima saw his grounder parried away by shot stopper Abdulla Al Tamim.
Benites, who had just replaced Naser Khater, rifled a dangerous shot from the left but an acrobatic Abdulla tipped it away.
Benites then conjured a peach of a through and Salim Saif played himself on before tapping it past the on-rushing Abdulla.
Al Wasl could've resorted parity nine minutes from time but Lima's left-footer freekick curled a tad too much.
james@khaleejtimes.com