Al Jazira cruise to 5-1 win past ten-man Ajman
ajman — Al Jazira strolled to a 5-1 victory over ten-man Ajman at Rashid bin Saeed Stadium in the opening game of the Arabian Gulf League matchweek 4 to move temporarily top of the table.
The Pride of Abu Dhabi wasted no time to take the lead after striker Ali Mabkhout capitalised on a defensive mistake to put them in front after just seven minutes. The UAE international pounced on a misplaced backpass and rounded the goalkeeper to net his sixth goal of the campaign.
Ghanaian winger Ernest Asante received Khalfan Mubarak’s pass outside the box and unleashed a powerful left-footed effort than nestled into the net to double Al Jazira’s lead in the 43rd minute.
Ajman’s woes deepened in the 63rd minute after Brazilian midfielder Vander Vieira received his marching orders after a second bookable offence. The visitors capitalised almost instantly with Mubarak sending an inviting ball from the free-kick for centre-back Khalifa Al Hammadi who headed home at the far post to make it 3-0 in the 67th minute.
Just two minutes later, Leonardo Pereira cut inside from the left and rifled into the near corner from 30 yards out for his side’s fourth of the evening. There was consolation for the Oranges 11 minutes from time when Moroccan midfielder Adel Hermach volleyed in Mohammed Shaker’s cushioned header to reduce the deficit.
Last year’s Young Player of the Year Mubarak rounded the scoring in the 85th minute after receiving Abdulla Ramadan’s pass on the edge of the box and drilling an effort into the bottom corner.