Al Jazira maintain their lead

Al Jazira maintained their sole leadership of the first division soccer league. They ended their home match against their traditional rivals, neighbours and defending champions, Al Wahda, in a 2-2 tie to increase their tally to 33 points from 16 matches, one points ahead of Al Wahda.

Al Jazira should have won the match despite the fact that they came successfully twice from the behind to level the score in the first half. They took complete command of the second half.

When Al Wahda's undivided attention and marking was given to George Weah, it was his fellow Liberian James Debbah, who was the star of the match. Abdul Basit Mohammed, the Al Wahda custodian also played brilliantly to save his team a valuable point.

Al Jazira made early defensive mistakes as they applied the 3:5:2 strategy in which Mohammed Hassan, in the right flank of midfield did not play his expected defensive role and Al Wahda broke early through the right side.

Mohammed Salim Al Enazy, the league's top scorer, sent Abdul Rahim Jumaa clear behind the defenders and the latter shot his team into the lead only six minutes into the game.

The early goal gave Al Wahda more confidence as the young players of Al Al Jazira, who are leading for the first time in their history, found themselves under more pressure. The visitors continued to press for more goals benefiting on a panicking home defence.

Abdul Salam Jumaa lost a golden chance to add the second goal and Al Enazy was unlucky to see his fierce free-kick rebounding from the bar, 24 minutes into the game.

Farid Ali, the Fifa referee, came under fire from the home team's fans as he did not award them a penalty, 25 minutes into the match, after the visiting defence fouled Weah inside the box.

Al Jazira came back to the match and pressed for the equaliser, launching a series of attacking moves on both flanks. Abdullah Salim, the Al Wahda's libero and captain, made a bad mistake in clearing and the ball went to Debbah who went inside their penalty box before sending a strong shot that levelled the score 30 minutes into the first half.

Al Wahda repeated the move of their first goal. Abdul Rahim provided this time sending Yasir Salim clear from the same position from which he scored the first goal.

Yasir lobbed over Saeed Jumaa, the advancing home custodian for the visitors second goal, seven minutes before the end.

Debbah came again to the rescue of his team as he was sent clear by Yousuf Hassan and the Liberian professional proved his worth as his fierce shot levelled the score for the second time in the last minute of the first half.

Al Jazira were the better side in the second half and should have gone ahead two minutes after the breather when Weah sent Debbah clear but Abdul Basit saved brilliantly. Weah lost a chance and Debbah's strong shot rebounded from the bar, nine minutes after the interval.

Abdul Basit was in a class of his own and Debbah was the star of the match and both players, facing each other played one of their best ever matches. Debbah, launching several attacks and going easily past the visiting defenders, and Abdul Basit kept on saving his team from a big defeat.

Al Jazira had six definite scoring chances while Al Wahda had only one in the second half. Debbah, Weah, Mohammed Salim, the home team libero, and Hussain Suhail, all missed sitters for Jazira while Saeed Jumaa saved the free kick of Basheer Saeed to a corner, for Al Wahda's only chance in the second half. Both coaches tried all their cards. Al Wahda brought in injured professional midfielder Mohammed Conteh.

Al Jazira made several changes in personnel and positions but to no avail as the result remained at 2-2 with the two teams dividing the two points. The top of the standings remained as it was with Al Jazira still leading and Al Wahda hot on their heels.