Battling Al Shaab hand Al Jazira their first defeat of the season

Sharjah: Al Shaab handed out a 2-1 defeat to high-flying Al Jazira, while former champions Al Wahda worked hard for their first-ever win of the season with a 2-0 result against Hatta in the Etisalat UAE National Football League yesterday.

This was the first-ever defeat for Al Jazira, recently crowned the Gulf Clubs champions.

A win would have handed the capital side a temporary occupancy at the top of the standings for the first time this season.

But that was not to be as Al Shaab erased a first half Philip Cocu goal with two smooth strikes within 15 minutes from their Iranian imports Ali Samareh and Mehrdad Madenshi.

In control

Despite the result, the two teams maintained their positions in the standings with Al Jazira in second and Al Shaab in third with 17 points each. Al Shabab, who are scheduled to host Sharjah in tonight's derby, continue at the top with 19 points.

Going into yesterday's match, Al Jazira - the only team to boast of a no-loss record - controlled proceedings in the first half. But the second half all belonged to the home team with their set-up proving their mettle for the big games.

The home side started with an early onslaught with Rashid Al Dossary having a clear look at the Al Jazira goal with a stiff grounder straight into the waiting hands of goalkeeper Ali Kassif.

Mehrdad Madenshi then had two close calls on the Al Jazira, the first time with his free kick sailing over the bar in the 11th minute and then shooting straight into goalkeeper Kassif six minutes later.

Al Jazira took their time to settle and made quiet inroads using their foreign imports Jonah Kalou and Ebrahim Deyaki.

Deft touch

It was a superb left-footed curling strike from outside the box from the experienced Cocu that silenced the home spectators in the 33rd minute.

No one knows what new coach Lutfi Benzarti told his players during halftime as they re-trooped admirably to hold the match on a tight leash. Madenshi was the inspiration for the home team.

Playing from his favoured attacking midfielder position, Madenshi set up countryman Samareh with a deft touch for the first goal in the 51st minute.

Fifteen minutes later, Madenshi came up with a beauty of a strike from well over 40 yards to give his team a well-deserved win.

In the day's second match, Al Wahda scored once in each half through their Brazilian striker Andre Luciano Silva-Pinga to secure a hard-fought 2-0 win against Hatta Club.