Sublime Mabkhout does the trick in Jazira’s win
dubai — Ali Ahmed Mabkhout’s sublime form continued with the Al Jazira frontman firing a hat-trick to swell his tally to 23 goals in the Arabian Gulf League.
Mabkhout plundered goals at will as the League’s leaders maintained a nine-point cushion at the top with a 5-0 mauling of Emirates, at the Mohammed bin Zayed Stadium on Wednesday night.
Mabkhout scored on 19, 49 and 70 minutes, while Leonardo Pereira scored from a penalty on 36 minutes. And Ahmed Al Hashmi, who replaced Ali Mabkhout on 83 minutes, made an instant impact by scoring in the next minute, to round things off for the Pride of Abu Dhabi, who are on a hot streak of eight League wins on the bounce.
It was Al Jazira’s 16th win and their ninth at home and it took their tally to 50 points. And with nine rounds left to play, a second League title seems to be in the bag for Henk ten Cate’s men. Their closest contenders Al Ahli, the current champions, are on 41 points, after blanking Hatta 3-0 at the Hatta Stadium.
Meanwhile, Emirates suffered their 13th loss and are second from the bottom with 12 points,
The rout began with Ali Mabkhout heading home an Ailton Almeida cross from the right after the Brazilian was fed by Mohamed Fawzi, on 19 minutes.
The pair came together again on 36 minutes and played their part in Al Jazira’s second goal. Ailton sent a fine through for Ali Mabkhout but the latter couldn’t go through with the shot as the Emirates goalkeeper Ali Saqr brought him down.
Referee Yahya Al Mulla pointed to the spot and Leonardo, signed from AFC Champions League winners Jeonbuk Hyundai Motors during the winter, was bang on target with the spot kick.
Al Jazira added a third, four minutes after the restart, with Mabkhout sending it past Al Saqr, following a Leonardo assist.
Mabkhout then completed his hat-trick on 70 minutes after Ailton fed him with a precision pass from the right, following a counter-attack.
Substitute Ahmed Al Hashmi came on for Ali Mabkhout with seven minutes left to play out and immediately scored, getting past Iraqi defender Ibrahim Ahmed before slotting it home.
In the other game, Ahmed Khalil fired a brace, while Asamoah Gyan scored one, for the Red Knights.
On Thursday, Al Wahda welcome Al Sharjah at the Al Nahyan Stadium, while Al Dhafra meet basement dwellers Bani Yas at the Hamdan bin Zayed Al Nahyan Stadium. Friday sees Dibba take on Al Nasr at the Kalba Union Sports & Cultural Club Stadium, while Al Wasl are at home at the Zabeel Stadium to Ittihad Kalba.