Sharjah, Al Jazira jump ahead in Al Ain’s absence

Boss happy to be busy at the Club World Cup

Sharjah and Al Jazira took advantage of Al Ain’s ongoing Fifa Club World Cup commitments to jump ahead of them in the Arabian Gulf League over the weekend.

Sharjah pulled into a solo lead with a 4-0 win at home to Emirates on Thursday, thanks to braces from Ryan Mendes and Welliton.

Al Jazira, meanwhile, joined Al Ain in second, three points behind Sharjah, with a 3-1 win at home to Al Nasr on Friday.

Fares Juma netted an own goal for Al Jazira to put Al Nasr ahead after the break, but despite this and the fact that Al Jazira had been down to 10 men since Khalifa Al Hammadi’s first-half sending off, they still managed to fight back.

Mohammad Ayed’s sending off for Al Nasr preceded the comeback, which only began with 11 minutes to spare, after which Leonardo equalised, and Ernest Asante secured a last-minute winner before Khalfan Mubarak extended in stoppage time.

Al Ain, who have faced Wellington and ES Tunis so far in the Club World Cup, will have time to respond to Sharjah and Al Jazira’s advances with a game in hand at home to fifth-placed Al Wahda.