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Mehdi Taremi and Pedro Malheiro were also on target for the UAE outfit, with the defeat a blow for a battling Air Force side who were seeking the second win of their campaign.
The home side wasted no time in making their presence felt when Abdulrasaq Popoola warmed the gloves of Air Force goalkeeper Mohammad Saleh from distance in the second minute before Al Wasl turned up the pressure to open their account.
Air Force were caught off guard in the sixth minute after Taremi, played on by Gimenez’s through ball, timed his run to perfection before calmly nutmegging past an onrushing Saleh.
Air Force were caught off guard in the sixth minute after Taremi, played on by Gimenez’s through ball, timed his run to perfection before calmly nutmegging past an onrushing Saleh.
The Emiratis continued to make inroads into Air Force’s defence and their sustained pressure forced the Iraqi side to concede a penalty in the 16th minute after Achraf Boudrama brought down Taremi inside the box, with Gimenez converting the ensuing spot-kick into the bottom left corner.
Air Force pulled one back in the 21st minute after Tuisila Kisinda saw his cross into the box deflected by Al Wasl goalkeeper Dinko Horkas into the path of Al Hareth Hatem, who pounced on the rebound and slotted home from close range.
Air Force pulled one back in the 21st minute after Tuisila Kisinda saw his cross into the box deflected by Al Wasl goalkeeper Dinko Horkas into the path of Al Hareth Hatem, who pounced on the rebound and slotted home from close range.
Saleh was tested again at the half-hour mark when he repelled Serginho’s stinging effort from inside the area and the Air Force goalkeeper almost conceded a third in the 40th minute after seeing Hugo finish with a looping effort, only for VAR to rule the goal offside.
Al Wasl’s high-pressing game caught Air Force on the backfoot in first half stoppage time when Gimenez peeled away from his marker before finding an unguarded Malheiro, who finished coolly past Saleh.
Al Wasl’s high-pressing game caught Air Force on the backfoot in first half stoppage time when Gimenez peeled away from his marker before finding an unguarded Malheiro, who finished coolly past Saleh.
MD4: Al Wasl FC (UAE) v Air Force SC (IRQ)
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Air Force reduced the deficit again in the 55th minute after a dreadful back pass was intercepted by Moses Orkuma, who slipped a fine through ball to Haitem Jouini, who sidestepped Horkas and calmly finished into the bottom right corner.
Fabio Lima thought he scored his first goal of the season in the 63rd minute when Gimenez initiated the move from the centre to free Taremi, who laid the ball nicely for the Brazilian to net, only for VAR to rule the goal offside.
Fabio Lima thought he scored his first goal of the season in the 63rd minute when Gimenez initiated the move from the centre to free Taremi, who laid the ball nicely for the Brazilian to net, only for VAR to rule the goal offside.
Another defensive calamity proved costly for Air Force club in the 67th minute after a mix-up between Saleh and Ruslan Hanoon led Al Wasl to score their fourth, with Taremi pouncing on the loose ball before setting up Gimenez for a fine finish.
The Iraqi outfit continued to pour bodies forward and pulled another goal back in the 80th minute after Muras Mohammed rose highest to meet Mohammad Sami’s delivery from a set-piece situation with a looping finish over Horkas but Al Wasl held firm from there on to take the points.
The Iraqi outfit continued to pour bodies forward and pulled another goal back in the 80th minute after Muras Mohammed rose highest to meet Mohammad Sami’s delivery from a set-piece situation with a looping finish over Horkas but Al Wasl held firm from there on to take the points.
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