Al Jazira outclass Al Ahli in League match

Dubai - The Dubai 'Red Knights' pushed forward right from the start

Al Jazira thrashed Al Ahli 2-0 at the Mohammed Bin Zayed Stadium on Saturday night.
Goals from Ali Mabkhout and Khalfan Mubarak help the home team grab three vital points in the seventh round match of the Arabian Gulf League.
The Dubai 'Red Knights' pushed forward right from the start. And the manner of play 'surprised' Al Jazira coach Henk ten Cate.
"I thought they will be organised and counter attack. Also, they didn't start with Rodrigo Lima." 
The 'Pride of Abu Dhabi' looked menacing for most part of the game.  Al Jazira players won the hard tackles and threw themselves into challenges with more intensity.
"We controlled the game in a better way. We gave away one header to Lima. Even with 10-man, the team deserves a big compliment," he said referring to the red card handed over to Moubarak Boussoufa.
Mabkhout was the star of the match and scored from his first attack. It came in the 10th minute through a pass from Ailton Almedia on a counter attack. Later in the 35th minute, he set a neat pass for midfielder Khalfan Mubarak to make it 2-0. 
"All the people who have criticsed Ali Mabkhout should take note of this match. He is by far the best striker in the country," Ten Cate said.
On the future, he said: "We are closing down the gap on top teams like Al Ahli, Al Ain and Al Nasr. Those teams have a big rooster. We bank on players from our academy."
The second half saw more physical and there were lots of flare-ups. "Al Ahli players were very desperate to score but couldn't get an opening," Ten Cate added. 
Al Ahli star Ahmed Khalil hit the wall with his free-kicks and Ismail Alhammadi also missed an open chance to score. Those pretty much summed up the way the night had turned out for the visitors.Al Ahli coach Cosmin Olaroiu said it was a difficult game to get a positive outcome.
"Our performance wasn't the one I had expected. Al Jazira were more aggressive. We have lost this one but many battles remain. We have to pick the positives from this and move," Olaroiu said.
Al Ahli tried desperately to score but Al Jazira back-four held on till the final whistle.
"We tried to push but unfortunately couldn't score. We made mistakes and conceded the second goal," he said.
On Lima coming in as a substitute, Olaroiu said: "Lima was injured. He didn't train with the team but wanted to play."
On the League getting competitive, he said: "Many teams have done well. Al Shabab and others have improved. This season is going to be very close."
Asked if he will take up the UAE national coach job, Olaroiu said: "I get two questions everywhere - one is about Romanian national team and the UAE team job. I am at Al Ahli and am giving my best. We are working towards an aim as a team."
ashwani@khaleejtimes.com