Al Nasr Down Second-string Al Jazira

ABU DHABI - Al Nasr defeated a second-string Al Jazira 2-1 in the Etisalat Emirates Cup at the Mohammed bin Zayed Stadium on Saturday night.

By James Jose

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Published: Mon 1 Mar 2010, 12:28 AM

Last updated: Mon 6 Apr 2015, 4:06 AM

Younus Ahmed scored for Al Nasr in the 26th minute, while substitute Jamal Ibrahim doubled the lead, with two minutes left on the clock.

Abdulla Qasem scored for Al Jazira in the 56th minute. It was Al Jazira first defeat in the tournament. They have won four and drawn one.

With Al Jazira already having qualified for the semifinals, coach Abel Braga gave his top players like captain Ibrahim Diaky, forwards Rafael Sobis and Ricardo Oliveira, defender Rozario and goalkeeper Ali Kasheif a rest and started with virtually a second XI.

Al Wahda from Group A, Al Ain from Group B and Al Jazira from Group C, have already made the cut. The top three and the best second-placed team from any of the groups go through to the semifinals.

Al Wahda take on second-placed Al Ahli in Group A, while Al Ain meet Ajman in Group B, on Sunday.

Al Nasr earned a couple of corners before the half hour mark but failed to convert from any of them. But they didn’t have to wait too long to go ahead. Mohammed Mal Allah back tapped it for Younus Ahmed and the latter evaded a couple of defenders, made space and fired it goalwards. The ball hit the right post and went in, in the 26th minute.

Al Jazira, who were a bit subdued, found their bearings and came up with a couple of dangerous chances. Mohammed Salem Mubarak sent in a fine pass from the left but Ali Mabkhout fired his shot over the bar in the 31st minute.

With two minutes to go for half-time, Mohammed Salem Mubarak swerving and dangerous left-footer was punched away by goalkeeper Hameed Abdullah, who dived to his left to keep it away.

Jazira’s forays after the break bore fruit as they levelled in the 56th minute through Abdulla Qasem, who scored off a corner. Jazira could have increased the lead in the 62nd minute but Ali Mabkhout’s charge and the resultant shot, off a counter, just went wide of the far post.

Al Nasr too came close in the very next minute but Mahmoud Hasan’s threatening freekick was fended away by goalkeeper Khalid Seif, who pushed it over the cross bar.

Al Nasr substitute Jamal Ibrahim scored the match-winner with two minutes left on the clock.

Teams: Al Jazira: Khalif Seif, Khalid Sabeel, Michael Beauchamp, Ali Salem, Saleh Basheer, Ibrahim Eid, Tarek Ahmed, Yaser Matar, Abdullah Qasem, Ali Mabkhout, Mohammed Salem Mubarak. Substitutes: Khalid Issa, Abdullah Mal Allah, Yaser Karamah, Mohammed Salem Hasan, Khalid Butti, Saeed Abbas. Coach: Abel Braga.

Al Nasr: Hameed Abdullah, Mohammed Khameis Salem, Kazem Ali, Mahmoud Hasan, Fahed Sabeel, Saeed Mubarak, Kassem Abdul Rida, Hameed Abdullah Abbas, Abdullah Ahmed, Younus Ahmed, Mohammed Mal Allah. Coach: Adel Al Suleimi.


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