Borhani strikes take Al Nasr into top spot in FA Cup

Dubai - Al Nasr rode on an Arash Borhani brace to quell Al Wasl and grab sole leadership of Group B in the FA Cup yesterday.

Borhani, who had scored just once before for his new club this season, found the net twice during the first half itself, to help Al Nasr grab full points and lead the group with six points after two matches.

Borhani's countryman Farhad Majidi got the third, and an own goal from Sami Rabea put the match beyond control for the home team, but only after substitute Ahmad Fayrooz had pulled one back.

Al Ahli bagged their first points of the competition with a hard-fought 2-1 win against Fujairah in the day's second encounter.

Shaky defence

Defending champions Al Ain are the fifth team in the group. There was no denying that Al Nasr were the better side against a shaky Al Wasl defence.

Their early pressure soon paid off as a curling cross from Yousuf Moosa saw Borhani nipping in and deflecting past Ahmad Salem on the Al Wasl goal.

Al Wasl managed a short-lived equaliser in the 20th minute through Qatari Mohammad Salem Al Enazi, but referee Badr Abdullah called for a foul on Sami Rabea and disallowed the goal. The home team's second best chance for an equaliser came in the 25th minute, but Brazilian Anderson's stiff shot went straight into the eager arms of Salem Abdullah on the Al Nasr goal. Al Nasr could have increased their lead in the 39th minute, but Majidi placed wide after getting past a host of defenders.

Second goal

However, Borhani made amends for his countryman's lapse off the very next move as he latched on to a hasty clearance from skipper Abdullah Eissa and slammed past a helpless Ahmad Salem for his second goal. Al Nasr's third came within six minutes of the second half, thanks to a blunder from goalkeeper Ahmad Salem.

The home team goalkeeper went in to get proper control on a high lob into the area, handed over an easy gift to an advancing Majidi, who got past him and tapped into an empty goal. Ahmad Fayrooz got one back for Al Wasl. Al Nasr's Sami Rabea deflected into his own goal to make it 4-1. In the day's second match, Al Ahli picked up their first points with a 2-1 win.