Baniyas give Al Ain a hand to lift Arabian Gulf League title by beating Al Jazira

Al Ain were left celebrating on winning the 12th league title Friday night after their closest challenger Al Jazira were soundly beaten a rejuvenated Baniyas 4-2.

Baniyas, light blue, had plenty to celebrate against Al Jazira, but the biggest cheers came from Al Ain, who were handed the AGL title on Jazira's loss. Mona Al Marzooqi/ The National

BANIYAS 4 AL JAZIRA 2

Baniyas - Verdu 12', Jaber 16', Bandar 71', Naser 90'

Al Jazira - Vucinic 79', Pitroipa 90'

Man of the match - Joan Verdu (Baniyas)

ABU DHABI // Al Ain were able to celebrate winning their 12th league title last night after their closest challengers Al Jazira were soundly beaten 4-2 by a rejuvenated Baniyas.

Jazira’s defeat left Al Ain with an unassailable 10-point lead at the top of the table and Jazira struggling to hold their second position with three games left in the Arabian Gulf League.

Joan Verdu and Mohammed Jaber struck within four minutes for Baniyas as the visitors took a 2-0 lead into the half-time break.

The first goal came when Amer Abdulrahman found Verdu unmarked on the left flank on 12 minutes and the Spaniard worked down the right flank to take play inside the area and fire a low left footer to put the visitors in front.

Verdu then set up the second goal with a short overhead pass from inside the area for Jaber to rise above the Jazira defence and knock-in a header four minutes later.

RELATED:

With the task to take the league title looking beyond them Jazira played like a demoralised and disjointed team throughout and it was no surprise went they went even further behind in the second half at the Mohammed bin Zayed stadium.

On 71 minutes Bandar Al Ahbabi made it 3-0 and substitute Mohammed Naser added the fourth for Baniyas.

Al Ahbabi scored from an Abdulrahman cross and Naser regained the three-goal cushion after Mirko Vucinic had pulled one back before Manuel Lanzini scored a consolation goal in added time.

“After this result we can only stand up again and fight back to finish second place in the league,” said Eric Gerets, the Jazira coach.

“They scored twice from the two mistakes we made early in the game and we had an opportunity to reduce that lead. That didn’t happen and the game slipped away from us.

“I have told my players that it is the same players who have been scoring and keeping us in the title race and now they need to stand up like men and fight back to take the second place, which is our objective after losing the league.

“Every team goes through a period of poor performance and we are experiencing that period at this period of time. But I am sure we can regroup and return for the next three games.”

Luis Garcia, the Baniyas coach, insisted his team deserved the three points as he felt they were the better side on the night.

“The results we have had in the last seven games (three points from seven games) were really disappointing and this result comes as a relief. It was a collective effort and a good result over a team like Jazira,” the Spaniard said.

Amer Abdulrahman found Verdu unmarked on the left flank and the Spaniard worked down the right flank to take play inside the area and fire a low left footer to put the visitors in front.

Having provided the vital break, Verdu set up the second goal with a short overhead pass from inside the area for Jaber to rise above the Jazira defence and knock-in a header four minutes later.

Al Ahbabi added a third from an Abdulrahman cross and Naser regained the three-goal cushion after Vucinic had pulled one back before Lanzini scored a consolation goal in added time.

Follow our sports coverage on Twitter @NatSportUAE