Arabian Gulf Cup: Henrique Luvannor lifts Al Shabab and Al Nasr escape Baniyas

DUBAI // Henrique Luvannor scored twice on Thursday night to save Al Shabab from a surprise defeat, helping them down Dibba 3-2 in their opening Arabian Gulf Cup match.

The hosts, who took a 17th-minute lead through Brazilian striker Jo, were trailing 2-1 in the 66th minute following goals by Khalifa Ibrahim and Boris Kabi, but two goals from Luvannor helped Shabab avoid what could have been an embarrassing upset.

In the other match of the night, defending champions Al Nasr started their cup campaign with a 1-0 win at Baniyas, with Nilmar getting the goal five minutes from time. The hosts finished the game with 10 men following Fawaz Awana’s expulsion in the 88th minute for a second booking.

Beaten 4-0 at home by Al Wahda in their league opener last week, Dibba looked more organised last night. They showed plenty of resolve on a humid night after conceding the first goal, when Jo latched on to a through ball from Luvannor and shot it through the legs of Dibba goalkeeper Humaid Abdullah.

Luvannor should have made it 2-0 when Jo drew the Dibba keeper wide and lobbed the ball for the Moldovan, but he failed to get his header on target.

Dibba could have equalised in the 40th minute, but Shabab goalkeeper Salem Abdullah did well to tip Faisal Ahmed’s shot just over the bar.

Four minutes later, Abdullah was caught in no-man’s land when a Tariq Ahmed shot was deflected towards Ibrahim, who finished off with a scorching side volley.

Dibba then took the lead in the 66th minute following a good run into the box by Ali Mohammed. Tripped by Manei Mohammed, he got up quickly to cross for Kabi, who just had to tap home.

Dibba, however, did not hold their lead for long as Luvannor headed in Ali Sulaiman’s cross to make it 2-2 in the 70th minute. Eight minutes from time, he got his second of the night, tapping home after Abdullah had deflected Mohammed Juma’s shot into his path.

Nilmar snatched three points for Nasr in the 85th minute, racing onto a sloppy back pass by Mohammed Jaber and rounding the keeper before scoring into an empty net.

Arabian Gulf Cup results and fixtures

Thursday

• Al Shabab 3 Dibba 2

• Baniyas 0 Al Nasr 1

Friday

• Al Wasl v Al Shaab, 5.55pm

• Al Wahda v Fujairah, 6pm

• Al Jazira v Al Ain, 8.45pm

Monday

• Al Ahli v Emirates, 7.20pm

arizvi@thenational.ae

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