Al Nasr opened their ADNOC Pro League adventure with a hard-fought 1-0 win over Kalba, collecting three valuable points in the opening matchweek and setting an early marker for the season ahead.
The Dubai side had to work tirelessly for their breakthrough, with Kalba showing resilience and threatening on several occasions.
After a cagey first half in which chances were at a premium, Al Nasr finally found the decisive moment shortly before the hour mark.
Gustavo Alex rose highest inside the box to meet Zayed Sultan’s perfectly delivered free-kick, guiding a powerful header beyond Kalba’s goalkeeper to hand his side the advantage.
The goal was a reward for Al Nasr’s persistence after sustained pressure in the second half.
Kalba, however, refused to back down and pushed aggressively for an equalizer.
Their best opportunity came in stoppage time when Miha Blazic unleashed a close-range effort, only to be denied brilliantly by Al Nasr goalkeeper Ahmed Shambih, whose reflex save preserved the clean sheet and ultimately secured the victory.
The result gives Al Nasr a winning start and early momentum, while Kalba will take positives from a spirited display despite the narrow defeat.
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