DUBAI // When Walter Zenga arrived at Al Nasr in January last year, his team were languishing in the lower half of the table, struggling to live with the other top Pro League sides.
Nasr had appointed and dismissed two coaches in the first three months of that season when they handed the Italian goalkeeping legend a five-month deal. Zenga turned the club's fortunes and results around as they went on to finish third.
That earned Zenga a one-year extension and in his second season, he managed to guide his team to second - their best finish since their third league title in 1986. Expectations, though not stated, are a bit higher for this season and Zenga and his men seem to be on track for their first championship in 22 years.
It is still early days, and there are still 23 rounds to play, but Nasr are top of the table, for now, after a 4-2 win at Dubai rivals Al Shabab last night. They are undefeated in three games, starting their campaign with a 2-1 win at Al Jazira before sharing points with Al Wasl, the league's only other undefeated team so far.
Before the game, Zenga had made it clear his goal was to fight for three points and take top position. Last night, he was pleased his team could manage that.
"At the end of the game, I told the boys that our job begins now," he said. "Last season, we were last after three games and then we started to play. This season, we are first after three games and now the challenge for us is to build keep going from here."
Things did not go to plan for the hosts. Missing Azizbek Haydarov through suspension, they were forced to replace defender Mahmoud Qassim in the 14th minute after a tangle with Bruno Correa left him with an injured ankle.
And in the 56th minute, they were reduced to 10 men after Essa Mohammed received a straight red for a tackle on Correa. Nasr had already scored three by then.
Giussepe Mascara opened the scores for the visitors in the 25th minute, slotting home Correa's back-heel.
Five minutes later, Nashat Akram got on the score sheet, blasting home after Leonardo Lima had carved the defence apart with a precise through ball.
Ciel pulled one back for the hosts in the 32nd minute with a blistering long-range effort that deflected off Mahmoud Hassan.
Two minutes later, he tried to earn a free kick for Shabab, falling over without any visible contact.
Mascara, however, did not appreciate Ciel's play-acting and pushed him as he lay on the ground. That allowed the Brazilian to put his acting skills into practice again as he theatrically went to ground.
Seeing his teammate on the ground, Luiz Henrique rushed at the Italian Mascara and soon all the players had got involved, pushing each other around.
Play was held up as the match officials discussed what had transpired and Henrique earned a booking for his actions.
Surprisingly, Correa, who had little to do in the episode, if anything, was booked as well and Zenga could not help but laugh at the decision.
Correa, however, failed to see the funny side and seemed upset until he got his name among the scorers in the 54th minute with a crisp finish from the edge of the box.
A man down, the hosts kept fighting and Edgar Bruno's header in the 69th minute reduced the deficit. Shabab's joy, however, was short-lived as Mascara scored Nasr's fourth following a neat one-two with Correa.
arizvi@thenational.ae
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Volvo ES90 Specs
Engine: Electric single motor (96kW), twin motor (106kW) and twin motor performance (106kW)
Power: 333hp, 449hp, 680hp
Torque: 480Nm, 670Nm, 870Nm
On sale: Later in 2025 or early 2026, depending on region
Price: Exact regional pricing TBA
Key facilities
- Olympic-size swimming pool with a split bulkhead for multi-use configurations, including water polo and 50m/25m training lanes
- Premier League-standard football pitch
- 400m Olympic running track
- NBA-spec basketball court with auditorium
- 600-seat auditorium
- Spaces for historical and cultural exploration
- An elevated football field that doubles as a helipad
- Specialist robotics and science laboratories
- AR and VR-enabled learning centres
- Disruption Lab and Research Centre for developing entrepreneurial skills
The biog
Fatima Al Darmaki is an Emirati widow with three children
She has received 46 certificates of appreciation and excellence throughout her career
She won the 'ideal mother' category at the Minister of Interior Awards for Excellence
Her favourite food is Harees, a slow-cooked porridge-like dish made from boiled wheat berries mixed with chicken
FIGHT%20CARD
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The Year Earth Changed
Directed by:Tom Beard
Narrated by: Sir David Attenborough
Stars: 4
Family reunited
Nazanin Zaghari-Ratcliffe was born and raised in Tehran and studied English literature before working as a translator in the relief effort for the Japanese International Co-operation Agency in 2003.
She moved to the International Federation of Red Cross and Red Crescent Societies before moving to the World Health Organisation as a communications officer.
She came to the UK in 2007 after securing a scholarship at London Metropolitan University to study a master's in communication management and met her future husband through mutual friends a month later.
The couple were married in August 2009 in Winchester and their daughter was born in June 2014.
She was held in her native country a year later.
A Cat, A Man, and Two Women
Junichiro Tamizaki
Translated by Paul McCarthy
Daunt Books
Anghami
Started: December 2011
Co-founders: Elie Habib, Eddy Maroun
Based: Beirut and Dubai
Sector: Entertainment
Size: 85 employees
Stage: Series C
Investors: MEVP, du, Mobily, MBC, Samena Capital
Milestones on the road to union
1970
October 26: Bahrain withdraws from a proposal to create a federation of nine with the seven Trucial States and Qatar.
December: Ahmed Al Suwaidi visits New York to discuss potential UN membership.
1971
March 1: Alex Douglas Hume, Conservative foreign secretary confirms that Britain will leave the Gulf and “strongly supports” the creation of a Union of Arab Emirates.
July 12: Historic meeting at which Sheikh Zayed and Sheikh Rashid make a binding agreement to create what will become the UAE.
July 18: It is announced that the UAE will be formed from six emirates, with a proposed constitution signed. RAK is not yet part of the agreement.
August 6: The fifth anniversary of Sheikh Zayed becoming Ruler of Abu Dhabi, with official celebrations deferred until later in the year.
August 15: Bahrain becomes independent.
September 3: Qatar becomes independent.
November 23-25: Meeting with Sheikh Zayed and Sheikh Rashid and senior British officials to fix December 2 as date of creation of the UAE.
November 29: At 5.30pm Iranian forces seize the Greater and Lesser Tunbs by force.
November 30: Despite a power sharing agreement, Tehran takes full control of Abu Musa.
November 31: UK officials visit all six participating Emirates to formally end the Trucial States treaties
December 2: 11am, Dubai. New Supreme Council formally elects Sheikh Zayed as President. Treaty of Friendship signed with the UK. 11.30am. Flag raising ceremony at Union House and Al Manhal Palace in Abu Dhabi witnessed by Sheikh Khalifa, then Crown Prince of Abu Dhabi.
December 6: Arab League formally admits the UAE. The first British Ambassador presents his credentials to Sheikh Zayed.
December 9: UAE joins the United Nations.
Planes grounded by coronavirus
British Airways: Cancels all direct flights to and from mainland China
Hong Kong-based Cathay Pacific: Cutting capacity to/from mainland China by 50 per cent from Jan. 30
Chicago-based United Airlines: Reducing flights to Beijing, Shanghai, and Hong Kong
Ai Seoul: Suspended all flights to China
Finnair: Suspending flights to Nanjing and Beijing Daxing until the end of March
Indonesia's Lion Air: Suspending all flights to China from February
South Korea's Asiana Airlines, Jeju Air and Jin Air: Suspend all flights
Kanguva
Director: Siva
Stars: Suriya, Bobby Deol, Disha Patani, Yogi Babu, Redin Kingsley
BABYLON
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