Al Nasr ends months-long home drought with 3-2 comeback over Al Jazira
Al Nasr ended a months-long home drought with a 3-2 comeback win over Al Jazira at Al Maktoum Stadium, moving to 34 points in Round 23 of the UAE Pro League.
Al Nasr overturns first-half deficit to win 3-2
Al Nasr recovered from an early goal to secure a 3-2 victory over Al Jazira in Round 23 of the UAE Pro League at Al Maktoum Stadium. The home side trailed at half-time but produced a decisive second-half performance to claim all three points.
The win was Al Nasr’s first at home since November 2025, ending a run of seven matches without a home victory that included five draws and two defeats. Around 2,000 spectators attended the match to witness the turnaround.
Key goals and scoring timeline
Al Jazira opened the scoring through Vinicius Melo in the 12th minute, giving the visitors the early advantage. Al Nasr struck back shortly after the break when Glauber Lima levelled in the 47th minute to lift the home side’s momentum.
Ramón Meiriz put Al Nasr ahead in the 50th minute with a quick response, and Cheikna Doumbia sealed the comeback with a 73rd-minute goal. Vinicius Melo added a second for Al Jazira in the 67th minute, but the visitors could not find an equaliser in the closing stages.
Goalkeeper reaction and team mindset
Al Nasr goalkeeper Abdullah Al-Tamimi described the win as both important and overdue, praising the team’s resilience at home. He said the squad had worked hard to deliver a victory in front of their supporters and acknowledged the quality of the opposition.
Al-Tamimi also highlighted tactical discipline in periods when Al Nasr did not dominate possession, explaining that the team focused on limiting damage and then capitalising on opportunities in the second half. His remarks underscored a pragmatic approach that paid off late in the game.
Standings impact and season context
The result lifted Al Nasr to 34 points and into sixth place in the UAE Pro League standings after 23 rounds. Al Jazira remain on 40 points in third position, with the defeat causing them to miss an opportunity to tighten their hold near the top of the table.
Al Nasr’s previous home victory came in Round 8, a 2-0 win over Al Dhafra, before the subsequent winless spell at their own stadium. The new three points provide a timely boost as the league approaches the final stages of the campaign.
Tactical shifts and second-half adjustments
Match observers noted a clear tactical shift from Al Nasr after the break, with quicker transitions and more decisive runs into the final third. The substitutions and altered pressing patterns helped the hosts unsettle Al Jazira and create the openings that produced the three goals.
Al Jazira’s two goals, both from Vinicius Melo, demonstrated their attacking threat but also highlighted defensive lapses at crucial moments. Al Nasr’s ability to convert chances after half-time proved decisive in changing the game’s momentum.
Stadium atmosphere and fan reaction
Approximately two thousand fans were present at Al Maktoum Stadium to witness the victory, and player reactions indicated the importance of securing a home win in front of those supporters. The crowd’s response was particularly noticeable after the equaliser and the go-ahead goal early in the second half.
The result offered relief to the club’s fanbase, which had experienced mounting frustration during the extended run without a home triumph. Club officials and players pointed to the win as a platform to rebuild confidence for the remaining fixtures.
The victory at Al Maktoum provided Al Nasr with a timely lift as the UAE Pro League season continues, offering the team momentum and a restored sense of belief heading into the next rounds.
