Dubai: Al Jazira were held to a 1-1 draw away to Emirates in Monday’s second round of Arabian Gulf Cup group matches, while the other early kick-off saw Fujairah held 2-2 at home to Al Dhafra.
Khalfan Mubarak cancelled out Johar Ahmad’s third minute penalty on 18 minutes, but the visitors struggled to extend despite coming back from conceding the early goal.
Johar Ahmad put Emirates in front via the penalty spot inside the first five minutes after Mohammad Saeed was tripped inside the box by keeper Abdul Rahman Al Ameri.
Al Jazira equalised after the quarter, however, when Zayed Al Ameri ran onto a long ball forward by Nacer Barazite and cut a pass sideways to Khalfan Mubarak, who buried his shot into the back of the net.
Emirates had call for penalty denied with 20 minutes remaining after Abdullah Edriss handled in the box.
Leonardo also missed a chance up the other end for Al Jazira five minutes later when he chipped painstakingly wide from Yaqoub Al Hosani’s lob. In the end though, both sides shared the points.
In Monday’s other early game Fujairah were held to a 2-2 draw at home to Al Dhafra. First half goals from Fernando Gabriel and Khalifa Abdullah on 17 and 42 minutes had Fujairah 2-0 up at half-time, before Al Dhafra fought back in the second half with efforts from Suhail Al Mansouri and Khalid Bawazir on 57 and 62 minutes.
These results follow on from Al Jazira’s 5-2 win at home to Fujairah last week in the opening round of Arabian Gulf Cup group matches, during which Emirates had also lost 1-0 away to Al Nasr.
The Arabian Gulf Cup sees all 14 Arabian Gulf League sides split into two groups of sevens with the top two from each group progressing to the semis after a six round group phase.
