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Football: Mamic starts journey on winning note as Al Ain nail Al Nasr

Abu Dhabi - The Boss now sit second with 37 points, behind Al Jazira at 44, and play Dibba at home on Feb. 9.

Al Ain FC belted down three goals against Al Nasr during the Arabian Gulf League match to help coach Zoran Mamic start his career on a winning note at the Hazza bin Zayed Stadium on Friday night.
It's pity seeing a quality side like Al Nasr failing to score but such was the ruthlessness shown by the 'Boss' in their backyard that the visitors were always playing catch up.
The proceedings started as skipper Omar Abdulrahman drew players and passed to Saudi striker Nasser Al Shamrani on the right flank. He let a rocket that keeper Ahmed Shambih deflected but went to waiting Caio Fernandez, who tapped it back into the empty goal to make it 1-0 in the 23rd minute. The goal was a result of terrible defending as unmarked Caio easily picked his spot to shoot.
It would have been a double 10 minutes later when 'Amoory' and Shamrani combined again through a free-kick but the Saudi striker's header hit the crossbar and was back to Mohamed Abdulrahman, whose shot was saved by an athletic Shambih.
The crossbar again denied a goal but this time it was Al Nasr who were at the receiving end.
It was through a free-kick from the 'Blues' midfielder Abdelaziz Barrada but was denied by steel and stellar keeper Khalid Eisa. Al Ain, thus, went into the break with a goal advantage.
Second half saw, Omar make a perfect lob to Ismail Ahmed in the danger area for the defender to hurl in to the left end of the goal. Shambih was shattered as Al Ain went 2-up.
In the 78th minute, Al Ain slammed the door shut as Omar made it a three-goal game. Al Nasr defender Khalifah Mubarak was found guilty of handling the ball and the Al Ain playmaker deposited the ball in left corner of the goal through a penalty. The keeper dived correctly but could not even get close to saving the goal. Despite a three-goal margin, it wasn't bad effort from keeper Shambih considering the way Al Ain attacked throughout in packs.
Al Ain now sit second with 37 points, behind Al Jazira at 44, and play Dibba at home on Feb. 9. Al Nasr, meanwhile, drop to eighth with 22 points, trailing Al Dhafra by a point.
ashwani@khaleejtimes.com
       
RESULT:
Al Ain 3 (Caio Fernandez 23, Ismail Ahmed 57, Omar Abdulrahman 78). Al Nasr (0)