News Center

Al Jazira and Al Ain share points with a 2-2 draw

Al Jazira and Al Ain drew 2-2 to share the points of their Etisalat Pro – League fifth round match played tonight at Mohammed bin Zayed Stadium in Al Jazira Club in Abu Dhabi in front of a big mass of spectators.

 Al Ain are currently in fourth place with 10 points while Al Jazira are taking 9th position with 7 points.

The two teams started the game with great care fearing to concede an early goal that might affect their morals.  It was only eight minutes into play when Al Ain Australian striker Alex Prosque was put clear with only the goalkeeper to beat but he sent a weak shot into the hands of Al Jazira goalkeeper’s hands. Al Ain lost another sitter through Ekoko when he received a perfect pass from Omer Abdulrahman inside the six yard area but the goalie Ali Khusaif saved the ball before being deflected to a corner by a defender in the 22nd minute. Led by their dynamic midfielder Omer Abdulrahman, Al Ain looked the better side as they built many attacks and created a number of chances but Al Jazira’s defense stood solid on their way spoiling all their attempts.

In the last minute of the stoppage time of the first session Ekoko received a lovely pass inside the box but he was brought down by Salim Masaud for a penalty. The Ghanaian striker Asamoah Gyan made no mistake converting the ball into the net to end the first half with a 1-0 lead for Al Ain.

In the beginning of the second half Al Jazira’s Brazilian coach Bonamego brought in Ali Mabkhoot to replace Fernandeno who demonstrated poor display. Al Jazira tried their best to come back to the match and level the score, but Al Ain did not give them enough time to make their dreams come true when the French front liner Kimpo Ekoko netted the second goal with a severe shot that went straight into the left hand side only five minutes after the interval giving his side a 2-0 lead. But Abdullah Mousa pulled one back for the hosts with a strong shot when he received a long pass from his teammate Ibrahima Diaky in the 60th minute to make it 2-1. 

Al Ain Romanian coach Olario Cosmin made a compulsory substitution when he fielded in Ali Al Wihaibi to replace injured Ekoko in the 62nd minute. 

Both teams played a balanced and strong game with Al Ain endeavoring to add the third goal and the hosts Al Jazira trying to bring the match into parity. But Al Jazira were the first to maintain their objective with Ricardo Oliveira scoring the equalizer in the 74th minute.

Both teams demonstrated a thrilling performance in the last minutes but all their efforts were in vain to end the game with a 2-22 draw.

In the other match, Al Shabab and Ajman finished their match with the same margin when they also drew 2-2 at Maktoum bin Rashid Al Maktoum Stadium in Al Shabab Stadium. Al Shabab and Ajman are classified in 11th and 12th places with 4 and 2 points respectively. Poris Kabi put the visiting team Ajman into lead when he scored the first goal in the 9th minute. But Waleed Abbas and Brazilian Ciel netted two goals in the 33rd and 49th minutes to end the first session with a 2-1 lead for their side and Shihab Ahmed leveled the score in the 75th minute to end the game with a 2-2 draw.