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Jazira, Wahda play a goalless draw

The ‘El Clasico’ of the UAE between Al Jazira and Al Wahda ended in a stalemate in Week 3 of the Etisalat UAE Pro-League.

Watched by 14,190 weekend crowd at the Mohammed bin Zayed Stadium, the game ended in a goalless draw. Both teams had a number of chances failed to make it count.

Al Jazira coach Abel Braga gave new signing Matias Emilio Delgado his first start. It was his first home game as well. The Argentine attacking midfielder did not feature in Jazira’s season-opener at home to Al Nasr but came on as a substitute in the away game against Al Sharjah. Forward Tony was on the bench and came on in the last 20 minutes.

Al Jazira fired the early shot of the game 14 minutes into play when Yaser Matar made his way through. But the 24-year-old midfielder’s screaming pile driver shaved the left post and went out.

Wahda replied to that a minute later but Fernando Baiano, who moved from Jazira last season, saw his left-footer go wide of the far post, after Ismail Matar had fed him. Jazira should have gone ahead in the 17^th minute after a defensive lapse but Juma Abdulla’s tap in was collected by goalkeeper Adel Al Hosni, who fumbled initially.

Wahda had a chance two minutes before the break but Eisa Abdulla muffed up a fine opportunity. Eisa Abdulla broke through and caught the defence napping. He had ample space but, by then, Yaser Matar came to the rescue of Jazira and dispossessed Abdulla.

Jazira’s Khalid Sabeel almost put them ahead in the 65^th minute but Wahda goalkeeper Adel Al Hosni denied him, diving full length to punch away Sabeel’s left-footer after a solo.

Two minutes later, Wahda’s Baiano almost had it in the bag but Jazira goalkeeper Ali Kasheif kept it away after a fine ball from new signing Hugo.

Jazira too came close a little later but Bare was a wee bit too late in getting to a neat pass from Ahmed Jumaa.

Jazira coach Abel Braga brought in Tony in place of Bare in the 71^st minute and the Ivorian forward almost got them the lead two minutes later. Tony got a fine ball in from the half line and was being tailed by two defenders as he broke through. But his left-footer went wide.

Wahda coach Tite, for whom it was his first game at the helm, brought in forward Saeed Al Kathiri for Mohammed Al Shehi but it did little to change their fortunes.

james@khaleejtimes.com