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Al Jazira falter against Al Dhafra in the Western Region

Al Dhafra  stunned Abu Dhabi – based Al jazira with a 2-1 victory in the fourth round action of the Etisalat Pro – League played this evening at Hamdan bin Zayed stadium in the Western Region to move to fifth position provisionally with a record of seven points while Al Jazira’s balance was frozen at 6 points that put them also provisionally in 7th spot. Both teams stared the game demonstrating strong display that characterized by tough play with the hosts relying on defensive work. Al Dhafra  goalkeeper saved  two successive shots fired by Brazilian Fernandenho and Subait Khatir in the 31st and 37th minutes to end the first session with a goalless draw.

The home squad notched their first goal of the night only five minutes after the break through the unmarked Senegalese Makhete Diop who headed home Abdul Salam Juma’a’s cross ball. Makhete could have doubled his team’s advantage just five minutes later off a perfect header but Al Jazira’s keeper Ali Khaseif deflected the ball to a corner. The losers’ defender Juma’a Abdullah replied in the 60th minute but he was unlucky to see his header hit the upright. The French striker Amara Diane came close to swelling his side’s lead in another occasion that came two minutes after the hour.

The referee Amar Al Junaibi awarded Al Jazira a penalty kick when Ali Masari fouled Fernandenho inside the box for Ibrahima Diaky to convert it successfully in the 65th minute. The two teams exerted more efforts trying to score the winner but Amara Diane secured full points for Al Dhafra. Makhete launched  a rocket- like volley for Ali Khaseif to save in the first attempt but the ball went straight out to Amara Diane who smashed in the rebound seven minutes before the official time to end the game in favor of Al Dhafra with a 2-1 win.

In the evening second match, Al Ain secured a 5-1 drubbing over Dibba Al Fujairah at Khalifa Stadium in Al Ain Club. The French front liner Ekoko gave Al Ain the lead only 6 minutes into play. Asamoah Gyan netted two goals afterward in the 38th  and 42nd minutes and Alex Prosque netted one for Al Ain in the 41st minute to end the first half with a four straight goals win.  Alex made it 5-0 in the 68th minute before Elexssander Medeiros scored the losers’s consolation goal in the 75th minute off a penalty. Both teams played with ten men after Mohammed Salem of Al Ain and Junior Da Silva of Dibba Al Fujairah were shown the red card. Al Ain raised their balance to 9 points to stay in second position while Dibba Al Fujairah are in the penultimate spot with a lone point.