News Center

Al Jazira jump to second position with a 2-0 win over Al Shabab

 

Al Jazira jumped one step forward to take second position following their 2-0 victory over visiting team Al Shabab in their Etisalat Pro League 18 round match played this evening at Mohammed Bin Zayed Stadium in Abu Dhabi. The winners raised their balance to 35 points to remain with a difference of seven points behind leaders Al Ain who will face Al Wasl tomorrow at Zabeel Stadium while Al Shabab dropped to 4th spot with 33 points. The winners played with a lineup included a number of their reserve team as their coach preferred to give some of his key players a rest before their Asian Champions League match against Alistiqlal of Iran scheduled for next Tuesday this week. Al Shabab also played without Brazilian Ciel and Villanueva from Chili due to injury.

The two squads started the game with great care and most of the work was concentrated on the mid zone without any real chances. Brazilian Kieza was put clear one minute from the word go with only the goalkeeper to beat when he received a perfect pass from his teammate Essa Obaid, but Al Jazira goalie Ali Khusaif saved brilliantly. The Al Jazira Brazilian striker Bare replied with a header but it went over the cross bar in the 35th minute to end the first session with a goalless draw.

The winners' Brazilian coach Junior fielded in Ibrahima Diaky and his countryman Ricardo Oliveira after the break for Ali Mabkhoot to open the score with a perfect header two minutes after the breather off Diaky's cross ball and Ricardo Oliveira made it 2-0 when he received a lovely pass from Mabkhoot Ali in the 75th minute to give his side an invaluable win with two straight goals.