ABU DHABI // Al Jazira showed why they are top of the Arabian Gulf League (AGL) on Sunday night with a 2-0 victory over Melbourne City at Mohammed bin Zayed Stadium.
Mirko Vucinic and Yaser Matar scored for Jazira who, like Melbourne City, are owned by Sheikh Mansour bin Zayed.
The team from the capital of the southern state of Victoria are in Abu Dhabi for a 10-day camp as the Asian Cup unfolds in Australia.
Melbourne City coach John van’t Schip said the “quality of a team like Al Jazira is high” when compared the competition in the AGL and Australia’s A-League, where Melbourne City are a mid-table side.
Quality was apparent in the footwork of Manuel Lanzini, who looked a threat every time he got the ball and was fouled in the box by Melbourne captain Patrick Kisnorbo in the second minute.
Vucinic, the AGL's top scorer, had his penalty kick saved by Andrew Redmayne.
Melbourne City’s first chance came from some excellent play by Mate Dugandzic. The winger reached the byline and cut back to Damien Duff, formerly of Fulham, Newcastle United, Chelsea and Blackburn, who was unable to convert from 12 yards.
Hassan Ameen, the Jazira midfielder, tried to beat Redmayne on 40 minutes, but he went to ground looking for a penalty. The referee was not impressed and booked him for simulation.
Vucinic gave Jazira the lead in the 57th minute. His Brazilian teammate Jucilei found the Montenegrin national with a ball over the top of the defence.
Vucinic took a touch and powered the ball into the far corner from six yards.
The game seemed to become less amiable in the second half, with Khalid Sabeel involved in some of the unpleasantries.
Both sides made several changes in the final half-hour, in typical friendly fashion, disrupting the flow of the game.
Jazira doubled their lead in the 71st minute when a ball into the box from Vucinic found midfielder Matar, who got to it just before Redmayne and a violent collision ensued. Both players went to ground as the ball rolled into the goal.
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