News Center

A late goal saves the day for league leaders Al Jazira

 

A last minute goal scored by Bani Yas's defender Fahad Fraish into his own net, saved the day for  the Etisalat Pro-League leaders Al Jazira after holding hosts Bani Yas to a 1-1 in their round 16 match played tonight at Al Shamkha Stadium. This valuable point helped Al Jazira to reserve their 10-point difference from their lone and closest competitors Bani Yas team. The visitors   have raised their tally to 40 points whilst the hosts are sitting in the second position with 30 points.

The match was marred by a balanced display from the start with both teams demonstrating a brilliant and strong performance. The home squad and their rivals played an attacking football, but could not create dangerous attacks for more than 20 minutes. Most of their work was done at the midfield zone with both teams making few attempts. The first threat in the match came in the 25th minute when Abdullah Mousa's fierce shot was cleared away by a defender. Al Jazira's midfielder Ibrahima Diaky came close to give his team  an early lead when he received the ball which was switched by his teammate Oliveira from the right flank with a lovely header but for his lead fortune  it missed the target in the 32nd minute .Their keeper Ali Khusaif deprived Mustafa Kareem from driving the ball into his net when he advanced out of his goal to face Bani Yas's player who was freed by Amer Abdul Rahman's through pass one minute later .Bani Yas squandered another sitter in the 38th minute when their front liner Andre Sangahoor from Senegal collected the ball on the right flank went passed a defender before sending across inside the box but his colleagues failed to drive the ball home. Al Jazira, who missed the efforts of their player Yasir Matar due to suspension, were almost taking the lead but Bare failed to score from inside the box five minutes before the break .The visitor's coach Abel Braga made his first change bringing in Sultan Bargash to replace Argentinean injured player Delgado one minute before the end of the first session.

Bani yas came in the second half to show superiority over the league leaders. They gave their rivals hard time after launching a number of raids and came close to score in many occasions. Their left fullback Yousuf Jabir sent a strong left footer in the 64th minute but the ball flew over the cross bar .Bani yas's efforts were paid dividends when Diyab Awana received the ball out of the box, made a cross pass for goalkeeper Ali Khusaif and defender Sami Rabei failed to save and clear away before Sangahoor successeded in controlling the ball and sending it into the roof of the net scoring his team's first goal raising his tally to 14 goals in the scorers' title run. Al Jazira's coach Braga brought in Ahmad Juma'a to replace Hilal saeed in the 75th minute. Bani Yas went on controlling the match despite of playing the last 15 minutes with ten players after their dynamic midfielder Amer Abdul Rahman was given marching orders for the second yellow card in the 75th minute. Also Diyab Awana left the pitch five minutes later and was replaced by Thamir Mohammad. Al Jazira's midfielder Subait Khatir sent a strong volley in the 91st minute but it was deflected by the goalkeeper Mohammad Ali Gholoom. Al Jazira were lucky enough to level the score one minute before the final whistle when substitute Ahmad Juma'a received a lovely pass from Diaky. Juma'a moved forward before crossing the ball in front of the goal mouth and for the hapless defender Fahad Fraish to deflect it into his own net securing a valuable point for the visiting team.