Abu Dhabi: The only consolation Al Jazira can derive from another calamitous continental outing on Tuesday night is that they can now focus unreservedly on striving to win the Arabian Gulf League for the first time since 2011.

Henk ten Cate’s men suffered their third straight defeat in Group B of the 2017 AFC Champions League, a 3-1 reverse at Al Fateh inspired by Ali Al Zaqan’s brace.

Even more ignominiously for the AGL leaders by six points, their opponents are bottom of the Saudi Professional League and making their debut in the ACL. This was also their first win in the competition.

Jazira occupy the Group B basement spot with no points, four fewer than Tuesday’s conquerors, meaning their hopes of progressing to the next stage are all but over.

Domestic bliss is the overwhelming priority now, then.

Al Zaqan gave his side an early boost when some neat footwork and a low shot found the corner of the net after 12 minutes to open the scoring. However, Jazira drew level five minutes before half-time through their prolific striker Ali Mabkhout.

The parity did not last long, however, with Hamad Al Juhaim restoring the hosts’ lead with a powerful header from a Tawfiq Buhumaid cross just moments before the interval.

Al Zaqan then sealed a deserved victory for Fateh just five minutes after the break with a sumptuous free-kick into the top corner.

Elsewhere in Group B on Tuesday evening, leaders Esteghlal Khouzestan dropped their first points of the campaign as Esmail Mohammad’s goal earned Qatar’s Lekhwiya a 1-1 draw with the Iranian champions.

Hasan Beytsaeid put Sirous Pourmousavi’s side in front after seven minutes when he picked himself off the floor to convert from the penalty spot.

But Mohammad latched on to Chico Flores’ header across the Iranian side’s goal in the 11th minute to level the scores and earn Djemal Belmadi’s team a draw that sees the Qatari side maintain the two-point gap between the teams at the top of Group B.

AFC CHAMPIONS LEAGUE

Tuesday’s results

Esteghlal Khouzestan 1 Lekhiwya 1

Al Fateh 3 Al Jazira 1

Standings

Teams P W D L GF GA GD PTS

ESTEGHLAL KHOUZESTAN FC (IRN) 3 2 1 0 3 1 2 7

LEKHWIYA SC (QAT) 3 1 2 0 6 3 3 5

AL FATEH FC (KSA) 3 1 1 1 5 4 1 4

AL JAZIRA (UAE) 3 0 0 3 1 7 -6 0