ABU DHABI // Mirko Vucinic scored four times to take his tally to 10 goals in five games as Al Jazira won a seven-goal thriller over Al Ain 4-3 on Sunday night at the Mohammed bin Zayed Stadium to maintain their unbeaten start to the season.
The former Juventus striker scored twice from two headers, a penalty kick and then rounded off with a fierce left-foot finish to cap a superb night of finishing.
The result was a massive boost for Eric Gerets’s side after their disappointing 3-3 draw last week against Al Dhafra.
Al Ain could not quite keep up, and were hurt by the absence of Asamoah Gyan and Omar Abdulrahman, though Jires Kembo-Ekoko helped the visitors stay close by scoring twice.
Jazira got off to a good start as Abdullah Mousa floated a long ball from deep left for Jonathan Pitroipa to collect at the far post, and his centre was headed home by Vucinic.
Mohammed Abdulrahman struck the equaliser. Kembo-Ekoko’s effort from inside the area was smothered by Musallem Fayez and the Congolese winger slipped the rebound towards the Emirati international to score.
The visitors went in front as Khalid Sabeel, the Jazira defender, brought down Abdulrahman and Kembo-Ekoko converted the penalty.
Vucinic restored parity before the break as he headed home Mousa’s cross from close range. Jazira were in front again 15 minutes after the restart from a Vucinic spot kick, the Montenegro international completing his hat-trick after Mohammed Ahmed, the Al Ain defender, felled Manuel Lanzini.
Kembo-Ekoko levelled again as he found the net from Abdulrahman’s pass. Not to be outdone, Vucinic collected a through pass from Pitroipa and unleashed a deft finish to beat Khalid Essa, the Al Ain goalkeeper.
Elsewhere, promoted Fujairah achieved their most impressive result yet, holding defending Arabian Gulf League champions Al Ahli 1-1 at Fujairah Stadium on Sunday night.
Madjid Bougherra, the Algeria international defender, gave the hosts a 1-0 lead in the 31st minute, and the promoted side made it stand up until Luis Jimenez equalised for Ahli in the 63rd minute.
Fujairah have three draws from four matches; Ahli have eight points from five games but are five adrift of leaders Al Wahda.
Elsewhere, Al Dhafra’s string of draws to open the season reached five when they were held 1-1 at home by Emirates.
The visitors took the lead in the 43rd minute when Rodrigo Silva’s free kick went through the legs of Dhafra goalkeeper Abdullah Sultan.
The hosts levelled in the 51st minute as Youssef Kaddioui, the Morocco international winger, found the net off a long throw-in. It was his third goal in two matches.
Dhafra’s draws have been 2-2 away to Al Wasl, 1-1 home to Ajman, 0-0 at Fujairah, 3-3 home to Al Jazira and now 1-1.
Dhafra were playing their first game under Marin Ion, the Romanian chosen to replace the Bosnian Anel Karabeg as coach.
Wasl picked up their first victory in five matches with a 1-0 victory over bottom side Kalba at the Zabeel Stadium.
The hosts scored in the seventh minute when the Brazilian Caio got the decisive touch in a congested penalty area.
A header from the forward Saeed Al Kathiri, recently returned from scoring four goals for the UAE in the Asian Games, was parried by Kalba goalkeeper Mohammed Osman Barout, only for Caio to put it in the goal.
Wasl’s defence of the lead became more difficult when centre-back Hassan Zahran was shown a red card in the 65th minute.
Kalba, back in the top flight for the third time in five seasons, are hoping to avoid relegation again but have only one point so far.
Ibrahima Toure returned from his ban with a bang, scoring two goals as Al Nasr earned a 3-0 win away at Ajman. Toure struck after seven minutes to set Nasr on their way to a second win of the season. His Macedonian teammate Ivan Trickovski made it two just after the break, for his second goal of the season, before Toure added a third.
It was a welcome impact from Nasr's Senegalese forward, who was sent off in the opening game of the season for elbowing Baniyas defender Mohammed Jaber. He was subsequently fined and banned, and it was thought he may have played his last game for the club.
apassela@thenational.ae
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