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Al Jazira surpass Al Dhafra with a lone goal to jump to second place

Abu Dhabi-based Al Jazira moved two steps forward to take second position with 7 points in the second group of the Etisalat Cup following their win in tonight’s fifth round match at Mohammed bin Zayed Stadium over Al Dhafra with a solitary goal whereas Al Dhafra slipped to fourth place with 6 points, the same balance of Bani Yas. The winners are only two points behind group leaders Al Wasl who are on top of the table with 9 points.

 The hosts started the game with a strong performance as their players tried their best to find the target through the movements of  the duo Brazilians Ricardo Oliveira and Fernandenho in addition to the active and dynamic player Abdullah Jasim. But the visiting team came afterwards to recover quickly making some good attempts to reach Al Jazira goal.

The Brazilian striker Ricardo Oliveira put Al Jazira into the lead only 27 minutes into play off a stand ball that  switched by Subait Khatir from the right flank for Oliveira to send it home with a perfect header. Fernandenho was almost to add the second goal after rounding up a defender and launched a rocket-like shot that saved by keeper Abdulbasit Mohammed three minutes before the breather. Al Dhafra replied with a similar volley  by Hamad Raqea in the last minute of the first session but it went just close to the upright.

The two teams continued their hard work in the second half trying to score more goals, but all their work was in vain as they lost all the chances they have created. The two coaches made some substitutions in the second session but the situation remained as it was.  Hamad Al Hamadi of Al Jazira was shown the red card ten minutes to time after collecting two yellow cards for his team to finish the game with ten men and a 1-0 victory.