Dubai: Wanderley Santos scored twice on his debut to hand Al Nasr a rampant 3-0 win away to Qatar’s El Jaish in the first leg of the Asian Champions League quarter-final in Doha on Wednesday.
The Brazilian striker, who joined from Sharjah over the summer, opened the scoring on 45 minutes thanks to Pitroipa’s assist, before the Burkinabe winger added a second 10 minutes later.
Wanderley then wrapped up the victory with two minutes remaining after converting another tap in from a cross by substitute Salem Saleh.
The victory sets the Blue Wave up for a comfortable second leg at home to the Qataris on September 14.
Al Nasr took the lead just before half-time when a narrowly onside Pitroipa evaded his marker and ran into space from a long ball up front.
After drawing El Jaish’s keeper Khalifa Ababacar towards him he then crossed it in to Wanderley who was alone in the centre of the box and ready to tap home.
Moments later Romarinho Ricardo headed over the bar for the hosts to go in at break 1-0 down.
There was little between the two sides until Wanderley’s opener. Both Al Nasr’s new summer signings Wanderley and Moroccan midfielder Abdel Aziz Barrada had come close.
Wanderley, who replaced outgoing compatriot forward Nilmar over the summer, forced a save from an early long shot.
And Barrada who was brought in from Marseille to replace Chilean midfielder Luis Jimenez, headed over the bar.
El Jaish had otherwise seen a shot from Sardor Rashidov spilled while Magid Mohammad glazed an effort over the crossbar.
The home side came out with more urgency in the second half. Romarinho tested the keeper with a long shot and then failed to get a touch on a goalmouth cross moments later.
But it was all in vain as up the other Barrada teed Pitroipa up on the edge of the area for a bottom corner bound shot to make it 2-0.
Man of the match Pitroipa was later subbed off for Emirati forward Salem Saleh with 15 minutes remaining.
One of Saleh’s first contributions was to cross into Wanderley for another unmarked and easy tap in before the end.
Rashidov had earlier wasted a goalmouth cross and Yassir Eisa blasted over as El Jaish ambled for a comeback. Ahmad Al Yassi was forced to clear off the line from a header as the home side rallied for redemption.
As disappointing as the home side were however, the fact that they have yet to utilise the services of their new star signing Seydou Keita formerly of Barcelona - who was benched throughout - could still warrant some concentration from Al Nasr in the second leg.
