Al Jazira enter AGC quarters with 1-0 win
dubai — Al Jazira’s young striker Ahmed Rabia Al Ghilani scored the winner as the Pride of Abu Dhabi beat Ajman by a solitary goal to punch their ticket for the quarterfinals of the Arabian Gulf Cup.
The Group A fixture was shorn of a few stars who did duty for Al Jazira during the Fifa Club World Cup, with them being called up by UAE coach Alberto Zaccheroni for the Gulf Cup of Nations.
But those who remained ensured Al Jazira got the win as well as qualification, with a game to spare. Henk ten Cate’s men will play the remaining fixture against Hatta on December 26. The game was postponed because of their commitments in the Fifa Club World Cup.
After a goalless first half, the 22-year-old Ahmed Rabia Al Ghilani scored on 55 minutes and that turned out to be the match winner at Ajman’s Rashid bin Saeed Stadium on Thursday night.
Elsewhere, Salem Saleh fired a brace as Al Nasr blanked a depleted Al Ain 3-0 at Shabab Al Ahli Dubai Stadium in Al Awir. Marcelo Cirino had given The Blues the lead, just two minutes in, after which Salem Saleh added cushion with the second on 16 minutes. And then, just past the hour, Salem Saleh scored the third and his second on 62 minutes.
Meanwhile, at the Hatta Stadium, Saeed Al Kathiri scored a double as Al Dhafra rallied from a goal down to beat Hatta 2-1. Samuel Rosa had put Hatta ahead on 19 minutes but Saeed Al Kathiri cancelled that out on 34 minutes. The former Al Wahda and Al Ain man then scored the winner on 75 minutes.
Returning to the Al Jazira game, Salem Al Eedi broke the off-side trap and sent a fine pass to Ahmed Rabia Al Ghilani. The youngster, who had just the goalkeeper to beat, kept his composure and fired it home.
Al Jazira’s third win from four fixtures took them to 10 points, while Ajman finished with four points.
In the other game, Rosa latched onto a through ball and fired it past shot stopper Ibrahim Al Kaabi to give Hatta the lead. But Al Dhafra were brought back into the game by Saeed Al Kathiri, with the striker firing the equaliser.
And Al Kathiri scored the winner, unleashing a screamer past the goalkeeper.
james@khaleejtimes.com