(MENAFN- Khaleej Times) Freshly-minted Arabian Gulf Super Cup champions Al Wahda, Al Nasr and Al Jazira made winning starts in first week's action of the Arabian Gulf Cup.
Al Wahda, who got the better of defending Arabian Gulf League champions Al Ain in Cairo, Egypt, last month, returned to the UAE capital Abu Dhabi will full points following a solitary goal win over Shabab Al Ahli at the Maktoum bin Rashid Al Maktoum Stadium, while 10-man Al Nasr tasted their first win this season, also notching a solitary goal victory over Emirates.
Elsewhere, at the Mohammed bin Zayed Stadium in Abu Dhabi, Al Jazira slammed five past Fujairah to win 5-2 against the promoted club.
Al Wahda top Group A followed by Ajman and Bani Yas, while Al Jazira lead Group B with Al Nasr in second.
A win has remained elusive for Shabab Al Ahli's new coach Jose Luis Sierra after the Chilean's side were beaten 5-4 by Al Jazira in their Arabian Gulf League opener but the 49-year-old, who replaced Emirati Mahdi Ali in July, will be hoping to make amends when they take on Ajman away on September 15, following the resumption of the League.
His side had done well though against Al Wahda, keeping the visitors at bay until just past the hour when Brazilian Leonardo de Souza, who joined on a two-year deal from Saudi Arabian side Al Ahli, tucked in the winner.
Al Wahda had begun well and came close to breaking the deadlock just seven minutes into the game but second-choice goalkeeper Hassan Hamza Ali pulled off a fine save to deny Leonardo after being put in by Sebastian Tagliabue.
The visitors had another opportunity on 13 minutes but Hassan Hamza Ali showed brilliant reflexes to tip Rim Chang-woo's header over the crossbar after talisman Ismail Matar had fired a cross from the right.
Shabab Al Ahli could have got the lead on 28 minutes but shot stopper Rashed Ali Al Suwaidi made a save off Mohamed Juma after being put through on goal by new recruit Emiliano Vecchio.
They had a couple of more chances just after the break but Mohamed Jaber was wayward with his shot following a cross from Henrique Luvannor on 50 minutes. Then, Abdelaziz Haikal's header hit the woodwork off Mauro Diaz's corner. Al Wahda ended the stalemate on 63 minutes with Leonardo volleying from close range. after Mourad Batna's header was pushed away by Hassan Hamza Ali.
Shabab Al Ahli had one last shot at an equaliser in stoppage time but it was not to be their night as Vecchio's screamer hit the woodwork.
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