Caio, Maroof star as Al Ain beat Al Jazira
dubai — Caio Fernandes and Jamal Maroof got their names on the scorers’ list. The duo played stellar roles in Al Ain’s 2-0 win over Al Jazira in Group B of the Arabian Gulf Cup at the Mohammad bin Zayed Stadium on Wednesday night.
The game got off to a quick start, when Al Ain’s Saad Khamis received a well-placed through pass behind Al Jazira’s defence on the left wing. The youngster’s powerful left footed effort was brilliantly blocked by Adel Abu Baker in the 15th minute.
Three minutes into the second half, Caio dribbled skillfully past the Pride of Abu Dhabi’s backline, and sent a defence-splitting pass to Maroof, whose clever ground cross found Tsukasa Shiotani. The Japanese’s right footed miscued shot missed the target from a close range.
Caio was once again the centre of attention for the Boss, when he controlled Mohnad Salem’s accurate long through pass and went past Abu Baker, before finishing the ball into the empty net.
Maroof secured the full three points for the away side in the dying moments of the game, when he converted Mohamed Fathy’s inswinging low cross into the back of Abu Baker’s net, making it 2-0 for the Boss.
The win takes Al Ain to Group B’s second spot with six points, just three points behind group leaders Al Nasr, meanwhile, the Pride of Abu Dhabi sit fourth with four points.
Yahya Jabran’s penalty gave Dibba the three points in a 1-0 victory over Ittihad Kalba in Group A.