Mabkhout’s Midas touchbackforAl Jazira
Win on the road against Al Gharafa helps teambook place in ACL knockouts
After beating Al Gharafa in their first meeting in the AFC Champions League Group A at home, Al Jazira coach Henk ten Cate had one piece of advice for his ace striker Ali Mabkhout: “You need to be more selfish.
“Iwant you to be selfish and take a shot at goal on your own, rather than giving it to others to finish.”
On Tuesday, the return leg against the same opponents was a crucial away fixture and Mabkhout had clearly endorsed what his coach wanted him to do. Every time he was inside the rivals’ box, he was looking to create space to take a shot on target.
The end result: a sensational comeback win for Al Jazira with Mabkhout scoring a match- winner late in injury time, the strike coming from a tight angle tofindthe goal.
It was his second of the evening.
Mabkhout was earlier instrumental in finding Al Jazira’s equaliser. Had his first attempt early in the match, not found the framework on its way to allow Brazilian teammate Romarinho to nod home on the rebound, the striker wouldhave hadahat- trick.
“I’m very satisfied with the win and the three points. Main thingwaswewere on the pitch all through to get those three points and so we all are very satisfied with our performance today,” said an elated Man of theMatchMabkhout.
Despite taking an early lead, Jazira’s complacency allowed the hosts to claw back into the match and the hosts were sitting pretty with a one- goal lead at the break.
Missed chances
“After the first goal, we couldhave scored twoor three. We were a bit sloppy with the last ball and then slowly we tookthings easy. We gave away possession too easy and then Gharafa capitalised on that to score two goals and so Iwasnot at all happy at half time,” said Ten Cate, adding the comeback his team made in the second halfwas phenomenal.
“Congratulations to my players because they picked their game up well in the second half.”
Ten Cate also revealed that the keywas to press hardwith an extra forward. The Dutchmanbrought inZayedAlAmeri in place of midfielder Harib Al Saadi in the 69th minute. It clicked almost instantaneously asMabkhout got the equaliser.