Arabian Gulf League leaders Al Nasr could only extend their lead at the top by one point after being held to a 1-1 draw by Sharjah.

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Jonathan Pitroipa’s well-taken strike had put the visitors ahead but Maicosuel equalised to help his team pick up their first point of the season.

Ivan Jovanovic’s men still top the standings with 10 points, one clear of Al Ain, while Sharjah are in 12th position.

Knowing that victory would give them a three point lead over second-placed Al Ain, following their 2-1 defeat to Al Wahda on Saturday, the Blue Wave did not take long to cause the home side problems. Jires Kembo-Ekoko and Luis Jimenez linked well but could not convert their chances as the visitors started off brightly. 

Sharjah soon found their composure but it was not long before the referee Mohammed Abdulla Hassan showed a yellow card for Renato Caja for a challenge on Ali Hussain in the 10th minute.

Five minutes later, Jimenez wasted a glorious opportunity to put his side ahead. The Chilean, who moved from Al Ahli in the summer, mistimed his shot from 10 yards out after a slick one-two move with Kembo-Ekoko.

They were nearly made to pay a few minutes later as Sharjah showed glimpses of their potential as Wanderley Santos was denied by goalkeeper Ahmed Shambih.

But Al Nasr were rewarded with their early possession in the 23rd minute. Pitroipa took advantage of poor a touch by Abdulla Ghanem, and struck a sweet right-footed shot past Mohamed Yousif outside the box.

It looked like Al Nasr would take that lead into the second half but the hosts were level after a superb solo goal from Maicosuel.

The former Cruzeiro midfielder showed his attacking ability by turning Khalifa Mubarak inside and out, before striking low into Shabir’s near post.

Al Nasr began the second half just how they did in the first period. With Nilmar, Kembo-Ekoko and Pitroipa along with captain Mahmoud Khamis bombing forward, the visitors created openings but no end result.

That gave Sharjah hope but Paulo Bonamigo’s men found it hard to gain possession and when they did, their chances rarely troubled Al Nasr.

Jimenez wasted another opportunity to put his team up after being set up by Pitroipa inside the last 20 minutes. From then on, it was all one way traffic as Al Nasr continued to push for the winner, although Shambih had to be on his guard to save Muhan Khalifa’s shot on the counter-attack.