Rami Rabia scores and contributes to every goal as Al Ain beat Al Nasr

Rami Rabia played a decisive role in all three goals as Al Ain came from behind to beat Al Nasr 2-1 in an entertaining UAE league match.

The Egypt international defender first made an error that allowed Al Nasr to take the lead, before scoring Al Ain’s equaliser and then playing a part in the winning goal four minutes later.

The result came in the third round of the UAE league and lifted Al Ain to nine points. They are level with Shabab Al Ahli Dubai and Al Jazira at the top of the standings.

Al Nasr remain on four points in seventh place following a match that changed direction after half-time.

Al Nasr opened the scoring in the 41st minute when Ivory Coast striker Chris Bedia took advantage of a defensive mistake by Rabia. The goal gave Al Nasr a narrow lead at the interval and left Al Ain needing a response after the break.

That response came from Rabia himself in the 58th minute. Following a corner, the defender rose to meet the delivery and sent a powerful header into the net to bring Al Ain level.

The home side then completed the comeback just four minutes later. A ball struck Rabia before falling to Georgios Giakoumakis, who finished the move by sending it into the net to put Al Ain ahead.

Rabia’s involvement in the contest therefore extended from the opening goal conceded by his side to the two goals that secured victory. His equaliser restored Al Ain’s position in the match, while the deflection off him helped create the opportunity for Giakoumakis to score the decisive goal.

The victory keeps Al Ain among the leading teams after three rounds, with their nine-point total matching that of Shabab Al Ahli Dubai and Al Jazira. Al Nasr, meanwhile, have four points and occupy seventh position.

Rabia joined Al Ain last season after his contract with Al Ahly ended. During that campaign, he helped lead the club to the league title.

His latest performance again made him central to Al Ain’s result, although his contribution came in contrasting moments. The defender’s mistake provided Chris Bedia with the chance to score for Al Nasr, but Rabia quickly changed the course of the game after the interval with his headed equaliser.

Al Ain held on after Giakoumakis’ 62nd-minute goal to claim a narrow victory and maintain their perfect start to the league season, while Al Nasr were left without a point from a match in which they had led for much of the first half.