ABU DHABI // Eric Gerets said his side’s defensive shortcomings were to blame for them allowing Arabian Gulf League new boys Fujairah to claim a share of the points with a late equaliser.
Boubacar Sanogo, the former Al Ain striker, latched on to a headed knock-down from Hassan Yebda, the Algerian midfielder, to make it 2-2 with just two minutes left.
“We wanted to win this game so much,” Gerets said.
“We started well in the first 20 minutes. It is not that we played against a strong opponent, but we allowed them to grow in confidence because of our own sloppiness.
“Everyone has to do their job on the zone but the players were falling back at most occasions.
“We had a chance to add a third goal and take the game to safety but that didn’t happen and Fujairah took advantage at the end.
“We have already conceded four goals in two games and we have to rectify this soon, otherwise the same fate will fall on us.”
UAE international Ali Mabkhout completed a flowing move to put Jazira ahead.
Summer signings Jonathan Pitroipa and Mirko Vucinic combined and the Montenegro international sent a neat pass through to Mabkhout, who sent the ball past Fujairah goalkeeper Ayoub Al Marzouqi.
Jazira’s joy was short-lived as Yebda, signed from Spanish side Granada in the summer, scored off a rebound five minutes later after Sanogo’s shot from inside the box was blocked by Jazira keeper Ali Kasheif.
Jazira were wasteful early in the second half with Manuel Lanzini, Vucinic and Sultan Al Suwaidi, all missing close range efforts.
They regained the lead from a penalty kick from Mabkhout, who stepped up after he was brought down by Ibrahim Alawi.
But when it looked like they would hang on for the win, Sanogo timed his run perfectly to equalise.
Abdulwahab Abdulqader, the Fujairah coach, felt his side arrived at the Mohammed bin Zayed stadium with a “20 per cent” chance and were happy to return with a point.
“We played a controlled game with more emphasis on our defence and the counter-attack,” he said.
“We knew Jazira played in intervals and they also committed a lot of mistakes, which we took advantage of. It was a good comeback from my players after a narrow (1-0) loss to Emirates in the first game.”
apassela@thenational.ae
AL AIN 2 AL WASL 0
Meanwhile Al Ain bounced back from their midweek Asian Champions League (ACL) disappointment to beat Al Wasl 2-0 last night, despite having Mohammed Ahmed sent off just after half-time.
Zlatko Dalic’s side received a major blow to their hopes of reaching the ACL final when they lost 3-0 against Al Hilal in Saudi Arabia on Tuesday, but they proved their character in beating Al Wasl, taking the lead through Gyan, last season’s top scorer, on 36 minutes.
Ahmed was then sent off for a second yellow card on 57 minutes, but Wasl, who squandered a two-goal lead to draw 2-2 at home to Al Dhafra in their opener, could not take advantage.
Al Ain sealed the points when summer signing Miroslav Stoch scored on his league debut in stoppage time.
AJMAN 1 AL DHAFRAH 1
Earlier, the return of Makhete Diop could not inspire Al Dhafra to their first win of the season as they were held to a 1-1 draw by Ajman at the Hamdan bin Zayed Al Nahyan Stadium.
The powerful Senegalese striker was out injured last week as Dhafra drew 2-2 at Al Wasl in their opening match.
Diop, who topped the scoring charts for Dhafra in the past two seasons, struck an emphatic opener when he volleyed in Rashid Mohamed’s pass from long range after 23 minutes.
But the home side were pegged back when Rashid Mohamed fouled Jasem Ali in the box and Boris Kabi stepped up to equalise from the spot for Ajman, who lost their opener 3-2 at home to Jazira.
* The National staff
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