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Al Jazira remain close to Al Ain with a 4-1 victory over Al Dhafra

 

Abu Dhabi – based Al Jazira reduced the difference of points to remain just six points behind league leaders Al Ain following their deserved 4-1 victory over visitors Al Dhafra in the Etisalat Pro League round 17 tie played tonight at Mohammed bin Zayed Al Nahyan Stadium in the capital Abu Dhabi. The winners are runners up on 34 points whilst the losers are 11th with a record of 15 points.

The two squads started the game with a balanced performance from the very beginning with the hosts being virtually the better side. They intensified their attacks from the right flank for 25 minutes and came afterwards to build some forays from the opposite side but they failed to find the back of the net squandering all the sitters that came their way.

Al Jazira’s Brazilian striker Ricardo Oliveira came close to open the scoring only nine minutes into play off Ibrahima Diaky’s perfect chest pass, but his rocket-like volley flew off the cross bar. Their goalkeeper Ali Khaseif committed a severe error when he stepped out of his goal, but the ball missed the target in the 15th minute.

The hosts went on dominating the game but all their efforts were in vain. They continued their attempts successfully for their Brazilian Fernandenho’s brilliant header off Argentinian Delgado’s flag kick past just close to the post in the 21st minute. The home team’s efforts were soon rewarded when Fernandenho scored the opener in the 34th minute capitalizing on Delgado’s perfect pass which put him free with only the keeper to beat. Al Dhafra started searching for the equalizer and their front liner Amara Diane was almost to make it one minute before the breather when he received a cross pass from his teammate Bandar Mohammed, but a defender successed in spoiling his close-range attempt to send the two teams’ players to the dressing rooms with a lone-goal win in favour of the hosts.

Al Jazira continued their domination after the break looking for the second goal so as to make things difficult for their rivals who endeavoured to bring the game into parity. But it was the home team who made his dreams come true when Brazilian Ricardo Oliveira made it 2-0. Anas bin Yasin netted an own goal to raise the tally to three straight goals when Ali Mabkhoot’s crossed ball hit him and went straight into the net in the 79th minute. Makhete Diop pulled one back for Al Dhafra scoring a consolation goal in the 82nd minute and Ali Mabkhoot completed the rout scoring the fourth goal three minutes into stoppage time to give his side a 4-1 win.