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Al Jazira capture their first-ever national League trophy; Al Ain and Kalba the most beneficiary teams

 

Al Jazira captured their first-ever national League trophy and made their hard efforts through the entire season a big success following their humiliating 4-0 victory over hosts Al Wasl in Round 18 game played on Monday night at the losers' home ground in Zabeel. Al Jazira came out of this season with a big feast winning the two major titles after snatching the President's Cup last month beating their traditional rivals Al Wahda in the final game with a 4-0 win. Winning the 2011 Etisalat Pro- League Championship was a result of a hard fought march started from 2000/2001 season. Through the entire period, Al Jazira came close to lift the trophy but they failed to make it. Last season they were on top of the table up the last weeks before Al Wahda jumped to take the lead capitalizing on Al Jazira's two draws against Al Shabab and Ajman.

In ten seasons, they finished their participation in second and third positions except in 2002/2003 season in which they took 6th position. They remain the only team who has not yet lost a single match since the start of the Etisalat Pro-League Competition this season. Moreover, they did not lose any match played at home since 2009 march 6 when they were beaten by Al Ahli 4-2. Al Ahli were crowned champions in that season with 55 points, one ahead of Al Jazira who came as runner-up.

The visiting squad raised their tally to 46 points, 12 ahead of second-placed Bani Yas and still have four matches in hand.

The winners faced their hosts with full team while Al Wasl played without their Omani player Mohammad Al Shaba and Ali Mahmoud due to suspension along with injured Waheed Ismail.

Al Jazira played with more care in the opening minutes and could not create dangerous attacks and failed to put more pressure on Al Wasl's defense who were the better side in most parts of the first session, but they could not find the back of the net despite of the bagful of chances that came their way and squandered by Brazilian player Oliviera, Yeste from Spain and Darweesh Ahmad. The winners also made some good attempts and their Brazilian Oliveira gave them the lead four minutes before the interval to end the first half with a 1-0 for his side.

The visiting team recovered after the interval to demonstrate a high technical game that led them to add more three goals after their Brazilian coach Abel Braga strengthened the midfield zone bringing in veteran player Abdul Salam Juma'a. Their defender Juma'a Abdullah capitalized on the ball switched from the right flank by Brazilian Bare. Juma'a headed the ball perfectly but goalkeeper Majid Naser saved it bravely but for his bad fortune the ball fell under Juma'a feet who drove it home making it 2-0 only five minutes after the break. Oliveira added to Al Wasl's owes when he received a lovely pass from his teammate Diaky inside the box. Oliveira found himself with only the goalie to beat; he rounded up the hosts' custodian before sending the ball into the empty net for the third goal in the 60th minute. Al Wasl finished the game with only ten players after their defender Yasir Salim was shown the red card in the 71st minute after hindering freed Bare.  Juma'a Abdullah put the game beyond the reach of the home team when he headed home the 4th goal off a stand ball switched by midfielder Subait Khatir three minutes into additional time to end the game with a 4-0 win for Al Jazira who went on celebrations soon after the final whistle.

In the other matches of Round 18, Kalba and Al Ain were the most beneficiary teams as both bettered their positions in the table. Al Ain moved to 9th spot on 21 points following their 3-0 win over hosts Al Dhafra who are still sitting at the bottom of the table with only 12 points. Kalba trounced Al Shabab to raise the balance to 17 points. Dubai lost to Bani Yas 0-2 to slip one spot down taking 10th place with 20 points. Al Wahda maintained the biggest win when they thrashed Sharjah 6-1 and both Dubai-based teams Al Ahli and Al Nasr were tied to a 1-1 draw in the game held at Rashid Stadium on last Sunday night. Al Nasr, Al Ahli and Sharjah are in the 6th, 7th and 8th places with 23 points each.

With only four rounds remaining, it became clear that the difference of points between most of the teams is not that big which means all of them still have a chance to end the season taking advanced positions.