Al Jazira prevented a Saudi clean sweep over the UAE clubs on match day four of the Asian Champions League when they held the newly crowned Saudi league champions, Al Ittihad, to a 1-1 draw in a pulsating Group C encounter in Jeddah last night. The Brazilian striker Fernando Baiano completed the fine move to cancel Ittihad's lead 19 minutes from full time when he blasted a close range shot into the roof of the net after Saleh Obaid had headed the ball into his path. Sharjah, Al Shabab and Al Ahli have all tasted defeat at the hands of Saudi sides this week against Al Shabab, Al Ettifaq and Al Hilal respectively, but prolific poacher Baiano ensured Abel Braga's men earned a share of the spoils. Osama al Muallad headed in a cross from the Moroccan Hicham Aboucheroune to put the home side ahead in the 40th minute. The Ittihad defender was unlucky not to have scored five minutes earlier when a similar effort crashed against the upright. The Jazira goalkeeper Ali Kasheif, who had another outstanding ACL game, pulled off a couple of excellent saves to prevent the home side extending their lead. He was alert to a close range header from Ibrahim Swayed and made a double-save by denying Hazazi before smothering a close range shot from Swayed in the follow up. The result moves the Abu Dhabi club on to three points from four games in Group C, while Ittihad climb to the top of the group at the expense of Qatari club Umm Salal, who entertain Jazira in a fortnight in the penultimate game of the group phase.
apassela@thenational.ae
