In a highly-anticipated clash at Zabeel Stadium, Al Wasl emerged victorious with a commanding 3-1 win against Al Ain, climbing to the top spot of the league standings with 17 points. Al Ain, following the defeat, holds at 15 points.
The scoring opened with a display of sheer skill by Fabio Lima, who unleashed a precise one-touch finish from the edge of the box at the 23-minute mark, outsmarting goalkeeper Khalid Eisa.
Lima’s remarkable season continues as he notches his fifth goal, complemented by the creative assist efforts of his teammate Nicolas Gimenez, who has been a key contributor in Al Wasl’s offensive plays against Al Ain this season.
The game's pace was set by Al Wasl’s Fabio De Lima with a masterful one-touch strike from outside the penalty area, which found the back of the net in the 23rd minute, deceiving Al Ain goalkeeper, Khalid Eisa.
Adding to Al Ain’s troubles, Soufiane Bouftini delivered a precise header off a Nicolas Gimenez assist in the 53rd minute, marking Bouftini as a lethal force in the air with all his goals coming from set pieces this season.
Al Ain's resilience shone through when substitute Josna Abianfi managed to pierce through the defense to notch a goal in the 64th minute, sustaining Al Ain's impressive scoring streak at Zabeel Stadium with a total of 31 goals in 15 appearances.
The final blow came from Caio Canedo, who, coming off the bench, blasted a shot into the net in the 80th minute, continuing his habit of crucial goals in fixtures against Al Ain.
This match not only delivers Al Wasl a significant victory over their rivals but also marks their first league win over Al Ain since April 2017, setting a new dynamic in this storied rivalry.