Al Jazira beat Qatar’s Al Gharafa in AFC fixture
Al Jazira defeated Weshley Sneijder-led Qatar’s Al Gharafa 3-2 in their opening Group ‘A’ fixture of the AFC Champions League at the Mohammad Bin Zayed Stadium yesterday.
Al Jazira, thus, also ended their 15-game winless streak in the competition.
For the hosts, Brazilian Romarinho, Ali Mabkhout and Ahmad Husain Al Hashmi scored a goal apiece.
For Gharafa, Mehdi Taremi and Sneijder scored.
Jazira goalkeeper Ali Khaseif was once again exceptional on the night as he came up with some brilliant saves towards the end.
Al Jazira shot into the lead in the tenth minute after mid-fielder Romarinho blasted the goal with a full-blooded effort from the right.
The lead, however, couldn’t last for even a minute.
Free strike
It seemed as if Al Jazira defenders were still in celebratory mood and Al Gharafa’s forward Taremi was allowed to take a free strike at the goal.
Though it was a setback, it didn’t hurt the hosts much as they managed to restore their lead by forcing another breakthrough with their sporadic raids in the 27th minute.
Mabkhout was credited for the effort as he shot home after the ball rolled over the Al Gharafa custodian Qasem Abdul Hamid Burhan when the latter appeared to be blinded by a defender in front.
After the change of ends, though Mabkhout missed an open goal early to double his tally,
Al Hashmi made it 3-1 by sending his right-footed effort from outside the box to the top left corner at the 69th minute.
Former Real Madrid star Sneijder then showed his old class by finding the goal with a left-footed strike in the 71st minute to make it 3-2.