Abu Dhabi: Al Jazira became the first team to book their berth in the semi-finals of the Etisalat Cup after trouncing Kalba 4-1 to lead Group B with 14 points with a game to go.
Ricardo Oliveira put his team into the lead from the penalty spot in the last minute of the first half and Ebrhaima Kiaky added the second during injury time. Edward Sadomba pulled one back for the visitors, but Myungmin Shin and Fernandinho netted the third and fourth goals to seal the win for Al Jazira.
Bani Yas, who started their match in second place in Group B, were overtaken by Al Wasl after they lost their battle with their rivals 2-1. New loan signing Jussiê Ferreira Vieira scored the first goal for the visitors, with Emiliano Alfaro adding the second and winning goal. Ahmad Ali scored the home team’s consolation goal. Al Wasl are now on 12 points, with Bani Yas having 10.
In Group A, Al Wahda jumped to the top of the group after coming from behind to beat Dubai 3-2 to increase their tally to 16 points from eight matches.
Dubai led 2-0 by half-time thanks to goals from Faisal Ali and Juliano Roberto, but defender Ali Ahmad scored an own goal in the 58th minute to pave the way for the visitors to come back. Salem Saleh and Mohammad Al Shehhi scored for Wahda in a remarkable fightback.
In the other match in the group, Leo Lima stopped former leaders Al Ain from securing their place in the last four of the competition after he scored the equaliser for Al Nasr from the penalty spot in the last minute of normal time. This cancelled out a goal scored by Kembo Ekoko only two minutes earlier. Al Ain have 15 points and Al Nasr 12, and both have a match remaining in the competition.
Friday’s results:
Group A
Al Ain 1 Al Nasr 1
Dubai 2 Al Wahda 3
Group B
Al Jazira 4 Kalba 1
Bani Yas 1 Al Wasl 2
