Two first-half goals handed Sharjah a 2-1 win over Al Ain at Hazza bin Zayed Stadium in matchweek 3 of the Arabian Gulf League on Friday.
Sharjah got off to an electrifying start, as they broke the deadlock in the 16th minute through Caio Lucas Fernandes, who capitalized on a defensive howler from Mohamed Shaker and advanced towards the box, before drilling the ball into the bottom corner.
Just five minutes later, Coronado nearly doubled the lead for the King. The Brazilian got at the end of Shaheen Abdalla's long through pass but failed to finish it into the back of the net.
Around the half-hour mark, Coronado was once again at heart of attack as he doubled Sharjah's goal margin. The number 10 got at the end of a loose ball and cut inside the box before sending an unstoppable curler that nestled into the top corner.
Welliton Soares wasted a glorious chance to make it 3-0 in the 34th minute. The striker received a defence-splitting through pass behind Al Ain's backline, however, his low strike hit the post.
Al Ain started the second half in a much better state as they kept pushing forward in order the reduce the deficit. In the 71st minute, Bauyrzhan Islamkhan tried his luck from a long range, but his powerful stunner cannoned off the post.
Eight minutes before the fulltime whistle, Shaker turned from villain to hero as he converted Islamkhan's crossed freekick with a brilliant towering header to make it 2-1.
After earning their third win, Sharjah moved to second place with the full mark. Meanwhile, Al Ain sit eighth with four points from a win, a draw and a defeat.
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