ABU DHABI // Thiago Neves scored twice and Ali Mabkhout was on target with a penalty for Al Jazira as they survived a wobble to defeat Baniyas 3-2 last night at Mohammed bin Zayed Stadium.
The victory continued the Abu Dhabi club’s recent renaissance that keeps them eighth in the Arabian Gulf League table, but the match was an ill-tempered encounter in which both sides finished with 10 men.
Having had the better of the first half, Jazira’s play was rewarded as Neves put them ahead on the stroke of half time with a free-kick. Baniyas fought back and turned the game on its head with two goals in four minutes from Joaquin Larrivey put the visitors ahead.
Jazira levelled through a Mabkhout spot kick after Mohammed Jaber felled the UAE international with a clumsy tackle.
To compound his and Baniyas’s misery, he was shown a second yellow card for the offence and was sent off.
Jazira were quick to capitalise on the numerical advantage.
Kenwyne Jones headed back a long ball from Yaqoub Al Hosani for Neves to score with a sliding effort from inside the area to regain the lead.
Jazira also ended the game with 10 players when Park Jong-woo was sent off for a second yellow card in stoppage time, but it was not enough to deny them their seventh win of the season.
“This is one of the better teams in the league,” Jazira coach Henk ten Cate said. “It was a fantastic game with both teams fighting until the last minute.”
Al Ain 1 Al Shabab 2
Dawood Ali’s stoppage time winner dented leaders Al Ain’s title hopes.
Al Ain were caught on the break as they pushed forward, with Ali’s shot going through goalkeeper Khalid Eissa’s hands.
Mohammed Marzouq’s own goal had given Al Ain an early lead, but Naser Masood levelled.
If Al Ahli beat Al Wahda at home tonight, they will leapfrog Al Ain at the top.
Fujairah 2 Al Wasl 3
Caio Canedo’s last-minute goal completed the fightback for Al Wasl as they came from behind to beat Fujairah.
Fabio de Lima had given Wasl an early lead, but goals from Hassan Matouk and Patrick Eze had put Fujairah in charge, before a second for De Lima and Canedo’s effort saw Wasl prevail.
Al Nasr 1 Dibba 1
Yassim Yaqoob came off the bench to score an equaliser in added time for Al Nasr to salvage a draw against Dibba.
Bakary Kone opened the scoring after 80 seconds, but Yaqoob ensured honours ended even.
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