Arabian Gulf Cup
Al Shabab 2 – 1 Al Jazira
Goals: Edgar (5), Villaneuva (15); Marzooq OG (31)
DUBAI // Al Shabab coach Caio Junior, who led Al Jazira to the league title in 2011, said he enjoyed his team’s hard-fought Arabian Gulf Cup victory over his former club on Tuesday night, but insisted he will not be resting easy just yet.
The Dubai-based side's win means they maintain a 100 per cent record in Group A and hold a six point lead at the top. Caio Junior, though, wants more.
“We are not believing we have qualified yet,” he said. “Last season, the two teams that progressed had 15 and 12 points and 10 points was not enough. We only have nine just now, so we need more.”
Jazira, who lost their opening Group A tie to Al Nasr last month, sit on three points from three games and are no longer in control of whether they can qualify from the seven-team group. Al Nasr sit in second place, also on three points, but having played two games fewer.
“It will be difficult to qualify now,” said Eric Gerets, the Jazira coach. “Even if we win our next two games, we are no longer guaranteed, but we will continue to try and see if we can still do something positive in this cup.”
Shabab had been forced into a late change when Rashid Hassan pulled up with a tight hamstring during the warm up, forcing Caio Junior to draft in Ibrahim Abdullah shortly before kick-off. The Emirati midfielder immediately appeared intent on proving a point and was involved in both his side’s early goals.
A quick throw-in taken in the fifth minute by Manel Mohammed was laid off neatly by Ibrahim towards Edgar Bruno, who had time to pick his spot from 20 yards and volleyed an arrowed drive low into the corner from distance. Khalid Alsenaani in the Jazira goal stood rooted to the spot and should have done better.
Ten minutes later, the 2011 champions doubled their lead when Abdullah showed neat feet and impressive strength to dribble through on goal, hold off three defenders and play in Carlos Villaneuva. The Chilean, an attack-minded midfielder formerly of Blackburn Rovers, was never going to miss from six yards.
“I’m very happy with Ibrahim because it was the first time he has started a game for us this season,” Caio Junior said. “In the first 25 minutes, he was the best player on the field.”
The hosts rarely looked troubled until Azizbek Haydarov hobbled off with an injured toe in the 30th minute. With Shabab reorganising their midfield, Jazira’s Khalfan Mubarak Alrezzy sensed an opportunity. The Emirati shuttled down the left wing before firing in a cross that Mohammed Marzooq headed into his own net.
Suddenly, from nowhere, the Abu Dhabi club had something to chase and they came out stronger in the second period, camping in the hosts’ half and enjoying the majority of possession without ever testing Salem Abdulla, the Shabab goalkeeper. Their best – and only – chance arrived in injury time, but substitute Ahmed Al Attas’s unmarked header from five yards was clawed around the post by Abdulla.
Al Dhafra stay top of Group B
Al Dhafra dropped points in the Arabian Gulf Cup for the first time but stayed top of Group B after drawing 2-2 at home with Al Wahda.
Makhete Diop equalised for Dhafra to cancel out Sebastian Tagliabue’s opener and Yousef Kaddioui gave the hosts a 2-1 lead on 42 minutes, only for Tagliabue to strike again just before half-time. Dhafra lead Group B with seven points from three matches.
Elsewhere, Fujairah rallied from a two-goal deficit to draw 2-2 at Emirates.
gmeenaghan@thenational.ae
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