More misery for Jazira after goalless draw against Wasl

abu dhabi — Al Jazira and Al Wasl split points in the Arabian Gulf League match at Mohammed bin Zayed Stadium on Friday.

The defending champions are yet to find their groove this season and sit eighth in the table with just five points from as many matches. Worse, they have a negative goal difference. It doesn’t help matters when the strike force misses the likes of Ahmed Khalil and Ali Mabkhout. In the absence of their top stars, Al Jazira’s attack was led by Ahmed Al Attas, who failed to score on the night.

Right from the start, both teams had equal opportunities to score but both goalkeepers and the defence fought off the onslaught.

Just over the half-hour mark, Al Attas had the best chance to open the scoring as he pounced on a miss-pass and also had the keeper advancing. When he had to place the ball, Al Attas tried a horrendous shot that went way over the top bar.

‘The Cheetahs’ hunting in packs with the Brazilian trio of Fabio Lima, Ronaldo Mendes and Caio, and an Australian in Anthony Caceres have been more than a handful for teams in the League. However, on Friday night, they failed to produce a winner.

Mendes had set piece free-kick sail metres over the goal post. It was one of those nights when nothing went strikers’ way and fans left stadium in disappointment.

Al Wasl returned home with a point and sit second with 11 points, just one behind Al Wahda.

ashwani@khaleejtimes.com