Negredo rolls back the years in Al Nasr's win

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Negredo rolls back the years in Al Nasrs win
Action from the match between Al Wahda and Fujairah in the Arabian Gulf Cup. - AGL

Dubai - The former Manchester City striker scores in The Blues' victory over Kalba

By James Jose

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Published: Fri 23 Aug 2019, 10:03 PM

Last updated: Sat 24 Aug 2019, 12:07 AM

Al Nasr made a bright start to their Arabian Gulf Cup campaign with a clinical victory over 10-man Ittihad Kalba on Friday night.
Goals from Brandley Kuwas, Toze and club captain Alvaro Negredo gave The Blues a 3-0 win at the swanky Al Maktoum Stadium.
Kuwas put the Blue Wave ahead on eight minutes and Toze swelled that lead on 41 minutes. Kalba were left to play 26 minutes with a man short after Yaqoub Al Hosani was sent off following a second booking. Negredo then showed his class, with the former Manchester City striker rolling back the years by producing a brilliant effort for the third goal.
The clean slate meant Al Nasr moved to the top of Group A, while Al Jazira are second.
Elsewhere, at the Al Nahyan Stadium in Abu Dhabi, Abdulla Anwar scored a double as Al Wahda beat Fujairah 3-1.
Anwar scored on 40 and 48 minutes, while Salim Ahmed Al Rawahi pulled one back for the visitors on 78 minutes. But Yahya Al Ghasssani put it to bed with the third, five minutes from time.
Earlier, late on Thursday night, Pedro Conde fired a brace as 10-man Bani Yas blanked Sharjah 2-0 in a Group B match at the Bani Yas Stadium.
Despite the searing temperatures, the accompanying humidity, and not to mention stoic opponents in Kalba, Al Nasr kept a handle on things.
And Kuwas gave them the ideal start by putting his side ahead on eight minutes, tucking it past goalkeeper Jamal Ali, after the impressive Jassim Yaqoub had squared it up from the left following a lightening run.
Kalba came agonizingly close to cancelling that out on 23 minutes but Walid Amber, on loan from Shabab Al Ahli, saw his effort denied by Al Nasr shot stopper Ahmed Shambih.
The Blues were to take a 2-0 lead into the break after Toze curled it home after another assist from Yaqoub, with four minutes left in the half.
Al Nasr were not done yet with Habib Al Fardan coming up with a neat runaround as he laid the ball for Negredo. And the Spaniard lost his marker, turned around and came up with a deft chip with his left foot.
Meanwhile, after a goalless first half, Conde broke the deadlock just after the hour from a penalty. And the Spaniard duly added the second in the second minute of stoppage time.
The Sky Blues were reduced to 10 men on 72 minutes after Joao Victor was given marching orders for a hack on substitute Ali Al Dhanhani.
james@khaleejtimes.com


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