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Eisa Ahmed’s brace, including a header in stoppage time, saw 10-man Al Wahda rally twice to hold Al Jazira 4-4 in the Capital Derby of the Arabian Gulf League at the Mohammed bin Zayed Stadium, late on Saturday night.
Al Wahda’s Damian Diaz tries to dribble past a host of Al Jazira players during their AGL clash on Saturday at Mohammed bin Zayed Stadium. — KT photo by Nezar Balout
Al Jazira, who are on a hot streak, thought they had put the game to bed after taking a 3-0 lead into half-time with goals from Ahmed Rabia Al Ghilani, Abdelaziz Barrada and substitute Felipe Caicedo.
But Al Wahda hit back through Ismail Matar and Eisa Ahmed. And though Adel Abdulla was sent off after a second booking, Al Wahda rallied well with goals from Sebastian Tagliabue and Eisa Ahmed.
The draw left Al Jazira third on the table with 37 points. Al Wahda are sixth with 30 points.
Al Jazira went ahead on 11 minutes through Ahmed Rabia Al Ghilani, who drilled it into the bottom of the net. Al Wahda came close to equalising but Ismail Matar’s long ranger was collected by goalkeeper Ali Khaseif. Al Jazira were awarded a penalty after Damian Diaz blocked Abdelaziz Barrada’s freekick with his arm. And Barrada made no mistake from the spot.
Al Wahda had an opportunity just after the half hour but Sebastian Tagliabue’s effort took a deflection off Musallem Fayez.
But with just few seconds left in the half, Al Jazira took the game far away from Al Wahda with the third goal. Ahmed Rabia Al Ghilani chipped a beautiful left-footer into the far post.
Al Wahda fought back in the second half and came close on 51 minutes but Hamdan Al Kamali’s pile driver was pushed away by Ali Khaseif. Then, Eisa Ahmed slotted it home but it was ruled off-side.
Al Wahda were not to be denied though as Ismail Matar reduced the deficit on 59 minutes after getting past Musallem Fayez.
Eisa Ahmed then got the second on 64 minutes by breaking the off-side trap to collect Matar’s pass and cleverly slipping it in between Ali Khaseif’s legs.
But Al Jazira pulled away again with substitute Felipe Caicedo, who came on for Ali Ahmed Mabkhout, scoring the fourth on 70 minutes. Caicedo intercepted a cross after Hamdan Al Kamali had failed to make a clearance, and slotted it home.
Al Wahda were down to 10 men for the remaining 18 minutes after Adel Abdulla received a second yellow for hacking into Barrada. But the loss of a man didn’t matter as Sebastian Tagliabue reduced the gap for Al Wahda by tapping home a Matar cross.
It seemed Al Jazira might just about scrap through with a win but Eisa Ahmed popped up to head home in the second minute of injury time, for the equaliser.
james@khaleejtimes.com
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