18 Feb 2007
Dubai: Al Shaab, top of the Etisalat First division football league, received their first defeat of the campaign after losing at home to Al Jazira 3-1.
Al Shaab suffered from the absence of their striker Ali Samera, the league's top goalscorer, who was serving a one-match suspension.
Al Jazira, led by Ebrahima Diyaki, showed fine form and deserved the three points.
They surprised the home team by scoring two quick goals. Tony of Ivory Coast hit the first, and Hussain Suhail added the second.
Jawad Qazimyan reduced the deficit in the 50th minute, but Hussain Suhail sealed victory for the visitors following a fine cross by Diyaki in the 55th minute.
Al Shaab could lose top place if Al Wasl beat Dubai club today.
Al Wasl have 22 points - same as Al Shaab. Al Jazira revived hope to compete for the title by raising their points tally to 17.
At Maktoum Bin Rashid stadium in Dubai, Emirates club of Ras Al Khaimah caused an upset by defeating Al Shabab 1-0.
Relegation zone
Iranian Rasoul Khatibi scored from the spot in the 64th minute.
Hasan Sherrif, the Emirates custodian and the former Al Shabab goalkeeper, was the man of the match yesterday.
He played superbly and denied Al Shabab many scoring opportunities.
The win pulled Emirates to the ninth place with 11 points.
They will be hoping to continue winning in the coming matches to escape from the relegation zone. Al Shabab remain sixth with 14 points. Al Shabab were unlucky yesterday, they did everything but score.
They attacked for the full 90 minutes keeping the Emirates defence under pressure, but failed to break the deadlock.
The Emirates goal came from their one real dangerous attack when Iranian Reda Enayati attempted to get past Eissa Mohammad inside the box.
The latter brought him down.
Khatibi dispatched the spot kick with ease.
Salim Sa'ad, Iranian Eman Mobali and Ghanian Prins Tago missed several chances and the Emirates defenders led by Hadef Saif, Salim Khaboury, Bousafarid and Humaid Saeed did well by marking the Al Shabab strikers.
They defended their narrow lead superbly until the final whistle.
By Sayed Ali
Gulf News 2007. All rights reserved.
