Caio Lucas double powers Sharjah to victory as Al Whada prepare for Al Ain showdown

Caio Lucas scored twice as Sharjah overcame Ajman 2-1 at home to stay third in the Adnoc Pro League on Thursday.

The Brazilian was on target off a pin-point pass from Al Hassan Saleh on the 38th minute and regained the lead from a spot kick in added time after Ajman had levelled through Mohammed Helal.

Ajman made several raids at the Sharjah goal in the first half but failed to find the back of the net. Ousmane Camara's header missed the target and Oulaid Azaro was wide from an opportunity.

Caio put the home side ahead and the Brazilian had an opportunity to double the lead 10 minutes into the second half before Ajman equalised through Helal's long-range effort.

Isaac Thelin and Sasa Ivkovic struck late for Baniyas to clinch three points over Al Nasr in Thursday's other game.

Nasr opened the scoring when Ryan Mendes met Wesley Braga's low cross first time with a right footer from the edge of the six-yard box on 18 minutes.

The visitors then suffered a blow when defender Mohammed Fawzi was sent off in the 22nd minute but still managed to overcome the numerical disadvantage to hang on to the lead until the 90th minute.

Thelin thought he had rescued a point for Nasr when he equalised from the penalty spot, sending the goalkeeper Abdulla Al Tamimi the wrong way.

But in an incredible finish to the match, Ivkovic scored in the second minute of the stoppage time when he met Nicolas Gimenez's cross with a powerful header for a 2-1 win for Baniyas.

Al Wahda meet Al Ain in a top-of-the-table clash and at Al Nahyan Stadium on Saturday.

Leaders Al Ain hold a four-point lead over Al Wahda, and the Garden City club’s manager Serhiy Rebrov said: “We have prepared for this match as any other but this game is more important for Al Wahda