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Al Wasl returned to winning ways in emphatic fashion as they claimed a commanding 5-2 victory over Khorfakkan in a seven-goal thriller at Zabeel Stadium matchweek 4 of the Adnoc Pro League on Friday.
The hosts produced an immediate response to their first defeat of the season against Shabab Al Ahli in matchweek 3, while Khorfakkan were unable to build on their first victory of the campaign after losing their opening two matches.
Al Wasl made the breakthrough in the 17th minute. Nicolas Gimenez curled a superb free-kick towards goal, which Ahmed Alhosani managed to keep out, but Siaka Sidibe reacted quickest to the loose ball and poked home the rebound.
Six minutes later, Al Wasl doubled their advantage. Sergio Pereira produced a clever run down the left, beating two defenders before cutting inside and drawing a challenge from Kayque Campos, leaving the referee with little hesitation in pointing to the spot.
Gimenez stepped up and calmly dispatched the resulting penalty into the bottom-right corner, beyond Alhosani’s outstretched hand, to put Al Wasl firmly in control.
Khorfakkan responded six minutes after the restart with an impressive attacking move. Aylton Filipe collected possession outside the area and dribbled past two defenders before squaring for Junior Flemmings, who applied a clinical finish to reduce the deficit.
Al Wasl restored their two-goal cushion just after the hour mark. Pedro Malheiro unleashed a powerful strike that proved too hard for Alhosani to handle, with the ball finding its way beyond the goalkeeper to make it 3-1.
Khorfakkan were handed a lifeline in the 67th minute when they won a penalty, but Dinko Horkas saved the spot-kick to preserve Al Wasl’s two-goal lead. Al Wasl extended their advantage nine minutes later when Soufiane Bouftini headed home from a corner, with a deflection off Akram Nakach wrong-footing Alhosani.
Flemmings scored his second in the 88th minute to give Khorfakkan hope, but Renato Junior sealed Al Wasl’s 5-2 victory in stoppage time after beating the offside trap and calmly finishing Malheiro’s through-ball.
Sharjah secured a thrilling 4-3 win over United at Sharjah Stadium on Saturday, with Igor Coronado completing a hat-trick to lead his side to all three points. The encounter produced plenty of drama and several shifts in momentum, particularly during a remarkable first half that featured five goals, before Coronado eventually settled the contest late in the second half.
Sharjah made the perfect start when Coronado opened the scoring in the 11th minute with a powerful strike that found the back of the net.
United needed only four minutes to respond, as Adeel Wgdan Alchadli struck in the 15th minute to restore parity.
Coronado put Sharjah back in front in the 33rd minute with his second goal of the match, before Agner Souza extended the hosts’ advantage three minutes later to make it 3-1.
United refused to let Sharjah pull away and reduced the deficit in the fifth minute of first-half stoppage time through Aniss Karimi, ensuring the visitors went into the break trailing by just one goal.
United carried that momentum into the second half and quickly found the equalizer. Karimi struck again in the 49th minute, heading home to complete his brace and make it 3-3.
The visitors then came close to completing the turnaround in the 74th minute when Harris rose to meet a cross and directed a header towards goal, but his effort went narrowly wide of the post.
With the contest still finely balanced, Sharjah were awarded a penalty in the 83rd minute after Ousmane Camara was fouled inside the area.
Coronado stepped up and converted the spot-kick in the 87th minute, completing his hat-trick and putting Sharjah 4-3 ahead.
United pushed for another equalizer in the closing stages, but Sharjah held firm to secure a dramatic victory and take their tally to nine points from four matches.
Meanwhile, Hatta claimed their first victory of the 2026-27 season with a dramatic 1-0 win over Bani Yas.
Ayman Rchoq scored the decisive goal in the 96th minute, striking deep into stoppage time to secure Hatta’s first three points of the campaign.
