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Al Jazira outclass Al Wasl 5-1 to take the lead provisionally

 

Abu Dhabi –based Al Jazira continued their winning streak in the Etisalat Cup to jump to the top of Group “B” provisionally with 11 points after they came out with a 5-1 win over hosts Al Wasl in the 8th round encounter held tonight at Zabeel Stadium in Dubai. The losers, slipped to fourth position with a record of 9 points and are left with one game at hand as they will face Bani Yas in round 9 whereas Al Jazira have two more games where they will take on Ittihad Kalba and Al Dhafra in round 9 and 10 respectively.

It was only three minutes into play before Brazilian striker Luiz Fernando gave the visiting team the lead. Al wasl went all out after conceding an early goal trying to come back into the game, and despite of the bagful of sitters that came their way, but they failed to find the back of the net. At the same time Al Jazira doubled their efforts, creating some dangerous opportunities and they came close in many occasions to double their advantage. But it was just a matter of factor time for Al Jazira who were able to surprise the hosts with the second goal when Ricardo Oliveira launched a severe volley from inside the box in the 27th minute to give his side a 2-0 lead.  Al Wasl did not give up, despite of being two goals down, they continued their attempts with all the hope to reduce the deficit, but they failed to make it. Oliveira made things difficult for the home team when he was set free in the 36th minute, rounded up Al Wasl goalkeeper Ahmed Mahmoud before driving the ball into the empty net to send the two teams’ players to the dressing rooms with a 3-0 win for his team Al Jazira.

The technical performance of both teams dropped down after the break especially Al Wasl who seemed as if they were content with the result. But despite of this male display, Al Jazira went on looking for more goals and their striker Oliveira netted the 4th goal in the 64th minute. Fernando squandered a brilliant chance when he rounded up Al Wasl goalkeeper, drove the ball towards the empty net but for his bad fortune it rebounded off the upright two minutes later.  Ricardo Oliveira was again on target scoring the fifth goal in the 68th minute for a personal super hat trick. Al Jazira played the last 19 minutes with ten men when Yasser Matar was red carded for bad conduct. Essa Ali scored a consolation goal for Al Wasl in the 76th minute off Al Faro’s cross ball to end the match with a 5-1 win in favor of the visiting team.