Al Jazira staves off tough Al Ain challenge

A lion-hearted display by goalkeeper Ameen Ali helped 10-man Al Jazira grab full points with a 2-0 win over GCC Club champions Al Ain in a league match of the President's Cup football championship here yesterday. It was a fighting display by the Jazira team, who managed to stave off some intense pressure from their rivals after an early goal. And then as if to celebrate their win, Al Jazira slammed in their second during injury time to cap a fine display.

Ameen Ali, who played in place of Jazira's regular keeper Saeed Juma, who is doing national duty, impressed with some timely saves. Al Jazira, who had a good performance in the just-concluded first division league, shot into an early lead through their star import Emmanuel from Nigeria. Emmanuel, did very well to control a cross from Yousef Atiq and after lobbing it past an advancing Al Ain custodian made no mistake to the cheers of the home supporters.

Al Ain, who have quite a few players missing due to national duty, took the fight to the rival camp and in the 30th minute almost scored. Hilal Saeed delayed and let go a fine chance, after being put through by Rami Yaslam. At the other end, promising Tariq Aqaab, who had a good game, put Emmanuel through but the Jazira striker failed to finish. The hosts suffered a major blow when Sultan Naser came up with a dangerous attack on an Al Ain player and despite protests, referee Mohammed Omer gave him the marching orders.

With Al Ain's foreign player Juma Mussa and Ghareeb Hareeb in full flow, the Jazira defenders had to fight fight tooth and nail in defending with 10 men for the remaining 55 minutes. In a dangerous move Juma Mussa's shot beat Ameen Ali, who rushed in to narrow the angle, but Khalaf Salam brought off a goalline save. Then in the 60th minute, Ali brilliantly saved a bouncing header from Mussa during a period when the Jazira goal was under siege.

Ali time and again came up with safe collections as Al Ain attacked in full strength and earned a series of corners and free-kicks. Midway through a booming shot by substitute Faisal Ali beat Ali, but the cross bar came to his rescue. Brothers Khalaf and Mohammed Salem along with Khalid Ali defended well to absorb the Al Ain attacks and then finished off in style in the final minute. Mohsin Saeed was brought in during the injury time mainly to waste some time in substitution, but he scored off his first move to leave Al Ain's fightback in shatters.
Ameen Ali was declared MVP after the match.