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Al Jazira and Bani Yas overcome Al Ahli and Kalba 2-0

Al Jazira came back to Abu Dhabi with three valuable points following their 2-0 deserved win over Al Ahli in the Etisalat Pro League second round game played this evening at Rashid Stadium in Al Ahli Club. The winners compensated for their previous loss to Al Nasr to collect the same points of the home team who beat Al Ain 6-3 in the first round.

The two sides played in front of a big mass of fans and they were able to demonstrate a balanced display in the opening minutes with the home squad Al Ali putting more pressure on their opponents’ defense but could not benefit from the few opportunities that came their way. Al Jazira did not wait long before finding the back of the net through their midfield Delgado who opened the score with a strong shot that beat goalie Obaid Al Taweela only 10 minutes into the game. But the unlucky player was pulled off five minutes later after scoring the opener due to a sudden injury for his coach Bonamego to field in Sultan Berghush.

Al Ahli doubled their efforts after conceding the first goal giving the visitors hard time and they came close to level the score in many occasions, but they squandered all the chances. Al Jazira were forced to retreat back to defend their lone goal lead and this helped their rivals to build a number of forays. Al Ahli’s defender Basheir Saeed was unhappy to see his rocket – like volley off a dead ball being deflected by keeper Ali Khaseif to a corner in the 34th minute. Khaseif came to deprive Emana from netting the equalizer when he shot the ball from only three yards, but again Al Jazira’s custodian deflected to a corner kick to end the first half with a 1-0 lead in favor of his side.

Amir Mubarak lost the first chance for Al Ahli in the first minute of the second half when he sent the ball from inside the box over the cross bar. Amir came to squander another opportunity for the hosts in the 54th minute after collecting the ball inside the box but he side – footed wide. Al Ahli continued their attempts trying to come back into the game but failed to score. Their coach Quique Flores strengthened their attacking line bringing in Ismail Al Hamadi to replace midfielder Majed Hassan in the 58th minute. But against the run of play, Al Jazira added their second goal in the 62nd minute off a penalty kick when defender Yousuf Mohammed fouled Fernando Da Siva inside the six yard area for Ibrahima Diaky to send the ball into the right hand side making it 2-0. 

Al Ahli created a number of scoring chances but keeper Ali Khaseif, the man of the match, deprived Graffiti from scoring in two successive chances to help his team end the match with a 2-0 win.

Bani Yas beat Ittihad Kalba with the same margin in the game held tonight at their home ground. The winners scored their two goals in the first session through Ismail Benlamalem who put the hosts into the lead in the third minute and his colleague Andre Senghor added the second in the 25th minute to secure his team their first three points in the league competition.