ABU DHABI //Only days before the 2010/11 Pro League season began, Al Jazira spent Dh10.5 million to buy the midfielder Matias Delgado from the Turkish club, Besiktas of Istanbul.
Despite being the captain of a Besiktas side that won the 2009 Turkish Super League, the Argentine had been booed heavily during a recent defeat, and few in Istanbul seemed to rue his departure.
Last night, Besiktas's loss was Jazira's gain as Delgado, now fully integrated into the Abu Dhabi side, scored the first goal and set up the second as the Pro League leaders went on to crush Al Ahli 5-1 as 16,247 looked on at Mohammed bin Zayed Stadium.
Jazira remain unbeaten this season, with 12 victories and three draws, and their lead is up to 10 points, with the second-placed Baniyas still to play this weekend.
Delgado's goal was exquisite, a free kick that sailed inches over an Ahli wall and curled into the lower-left corner of the goal in the 53rd minute, breaking the ice on what, to that point, had been a nervy game with Ahli slightly in the ascendance.
In the 62nd minute, it was Delgado's clever pass to Abdullah Mousa that led to Bader Abdulrahman taking down Mousa in the box, gaining a penalty that Ibrahim Diaky converted for his 12th goal.
It was easy to see how Delgado, with his technical skills, vision and willingness to work back on defence, could have been such a vital part of Besiktas's championship team, as well as an FC Basle team that won the 2005 Swiss title.
Jazira then left no doubt as Ricardo Oliveira scored on a breakaway in the 70th minute, Mousa headed in a corner in the 74th and Oliveira scored from 20 yards in the 89th.
Ahmed Khalil scored for Ahli with a penalty. The Ahli coach David O'Leary and the Italian import Fabio Cannavaro were spared an up-close view of the proceedings. O'Leary was serving the final game of a three-game suspension, and Cannavaro missed the game with what was said to be an injury.
Jazira's goal came after the slightest of touch fouls, assessed against the Moroccan midfielder Karim el Ahmedi, who was judged to have pushed Subait Khater off the ball near the corner of the box.
Delgado's strike ended Jazira's frustration at having had three shots, two by Bare and one by Ricardo Oliveira, go into the chest of goalkeeper Yousef Abdullah.
Each side failed to take advantage of several chances in the first half, with Ahli the more profligate side.
Pinga swung and missed a volley inside the box in the 14th minute, and Faisal Khalil failed to convert two crosses provided by the active winger, Abdulaziz Hussein, missing the first entirely and heading the second wide of the goal.
Three fans had a productive half-time as they each scored on a shot from midfield, and divided a cash prize of Dh50,000, as well as getting their names entered in a drawing at season's end to win a Ferrari valued at Dh1m.
Oh, and that Turkish club that sold off Delgado? Well, with a record of 11 wins, six draws and nine losses, Besiktas stand at mid-table with 39 points, 21 behind Super League leaders Fenerbahce.
