Abu Dhabi: “Remember my name” was the message from Al Jazira striker Mirko Vucinic after his four-goal heroics inspired his side to a thrilling 4-3 home win over Al Ain in the Arabian Gulf League “Al Clasico” on Sunday night.
“It’s ‘Meerko’, not ‘Merko’,” a grinning Vucinic gently chided a television reporter after his brilliant all-round display, which included two headers, a penalty and a sumptuous left-foot finish from an acute angle.
Vucinic’s pedigree was never in doubt, having won three Serie A titles with Juventus and scoring 21 goals for Italy’s “Old Lady” before his shock arrival at Al Jazira in the summer.
Yet, his second hat-trick of the season emphatically underlined his class and irrefutably proves he is a serious threat to Al Ain talisman Asamoah Gyan’s bid for a fourth golden boot in a row as the league’s top goalscorer.
In a sensational scoring streak which Cristiano Ronaldo and Lionel Messi would be proud of, Vucinic has netted 10 times in five league games, six clear of his nearest rival, Al Ahli’s Luis Jimenez, and eight ahead of Gyan.
However, the mercurial Montenegrin insisted afterwards that Al Jazira’s victory, which put them second, two points behind Abu Dhabi rivals Al Wahda, was more important to him than swelling his goal tally. He also rejected any suggestions that hitting the back of the net is easy in the Arabian Gulf League, following his experience of playing in Italy’s top flight, despite profiting from some shoddy Al Ain defending.
“Today the win was for Al Jazira, not for Vucinic,” he said. “We wanted to do something important and play with heart. It’s never easy to score goals and to play here [in the UAE] is difficult, as the weather is not good. But better weather is coming.”
While Vucinic grabbed the goals and the headlines, there were notable contributions from Al Jazira’s other attackers, Ali Mabkhout, Jonathan Pitroipa and Manuel Lanzini, a fact recognised by boss Eric Gerets after the match.
“We are fortunate that we have four attackers who can score at any time,” the Belgian said. “Mirko was sensational, but we can count on the others when he doesn’t score and hope we keep clean sheets to collect points.”
Meanwhile, Gerets’ Al Ain counterpart Zlatko Dalic said he was not too disheartened by his side’s defeat although he lamented the same lapses in concentration and defensively which had led to their midweek AFC Champions League elimination at the hands of Al Hilal.
He added that he was pleased The Boss had scored three times, via Mohammad Abdul Rahman and Jires Kembo-Ekoko’s brace, despite being without their two best players in the form of the suspended Gyan and the injured midfield maestro Omar Abdul Rahman.
“We are sending him outside the UAE for treatment and in 17 days he will be ready to play,” Dalic said of his ‘big player’ Abdul Rahman, who sustained a knee injury against Al Hilal.
“Mistakes killed us today and, just as we were against Al Hilal, we were punished. We had everything in our hands, but despite being without our most important players, the team scored three goals.”
Elsewhere, Al Wahda maintained their unbeaten league record and lead of the AGL after coming from behind to beat Al Shabab 2-1.
Morocco international Adil Hermach was the hero for Jose Peseiro’s men, scoring the winner five minutes time against the Dubai outfit, who lay second before the match. Substitute Salem Saleh had restored parity for Al Wahda on 80 minutes following Carlos Villanueva’s first-half opener.
Meanwhile, reigning champions Al Ahli’s sluggish start to the new season continued after they were held to a 1-1 draw by AGL new boys Fujairah.
Algeria captain Madjid Bouguerra opened the scoring for Fujairah in the 30th minute before Luis Jimenez equalised for Al Ahli, who lie five points behind Al Wahda in fifth, with 28 minutes left to play.
