Al Jazira beat Al Ain 2-1 in the second round Group A match of the Arabian Gulf Cup at Mohamed bin Zayed Stadium on Friday.

There was spate of attacks from either end. The match, as every other encounter between the two sides, was fought well. It was played at high tempo with attacks, challenges and counter-attacks.

Finally it was Al Jazira scoring the first goal of the match. Painfully for the visitors, it came just at the stroke of first-half. Al Ain striker Dyanfres Douglas missed a chance and on counter-attack, Mohamed Fawzi, who likes to play offensive role, went blazing through the right flank. It was a one-two with Ali Mabkhout and a final pass to young Ahmed Rabee, who beat the keeper to head home. It was cleared by Al Ain’s Mohamed Khalfan but the ball and the defender were ruled as inside the goal area.

Minutes later, Mabkhout was unlucky not to have scored as he tricked Ismail Ahmed and Mohanad Salem but the final placement missed by few inches.

It was high drama in the 49th minute as Al Jazira got penalised for a needless foul by Salem Rashid on Dyanfres Douglas. It seemed unintended but referee gave a spot kick. And Brazilian striker Caio coolly converted it to level scores for Al Ain ‘Boss’.

The goal made things interesting.

In 62nd minute, Mabkhout had a chance to wrest advantage again but he tried a cheeky chip while two white shirts were waiting at either end of the box.

Meanwhile, coach Henk ten Cate found time to introduce Romarinho. And there was a shift in Al Jazira dynamics. Soon enough, the ‘Pride of Abu Dhabi’ went up. It was a measured pass by Romarinho into the box, where Salem Al Eidi slotted in past keeper Mohammed Bu Sendah.

It was end-to-end stuff with both teams looking for goals. And an injured Omar Abdulrahman sat watching the proceedings from the stands. Caio and Douglas tried desperately for an equaliser and came close on few occasions only to be denied by a composed keeper in Ali Khaseif.

At the end, the score stayed 2-1 to give Al Jazira an advantage in head-to-head record in Cup matches. Al Jazira have now won four matches, Al Ain three and one ended as a draw.

Al Jazira now sit in second spot with four points and Al Ain at fifth in six-team Group A.

Source: Khaleej Times