Al Ain’s title defence was dealt a near-fatal blow last night after Al Jazira came from behind to defeat their Abu Dhabi rivals at the Mohammed bin Zayed Stadium.
Ghanaian striker Asamoah Gyan gave Al Ain a half-time lead but the hosts fought back to equalise through Juma Abdulla before Abdulla Qasem struck the winner 13 minutes from time.
Al Jazira return to third in the Arabian Gulf League table, while Al Ain remain in sixth. The defeat – coupled with Al Ahli’s 2-1 victory at Ajman on Thursday – means The Boss are now 11 points behind the league leaders, and a third consecutive league championship is looking more unlikely.
Quique Sanchez Flores is also facing questions over his role as coach with some fans venting their frustrations at the final whistle. Al Ain have lost four games already this season, the same number as the whole of the last campaign.
Al Ain could have been in front as early as the second minute but Ibrahim Diaky – returning to his old stadium for the first time since his summer switch – produced a tame first-time effort that didn’t trouble Al Khaseif.
That set the tone for the opening 15 minutes as Al Ain controlled possession; spreading the ball across the width of the pitch in search of gaps in the Jazira defence.
Sanchez Flores was forced into an early substitution when Brazilian wing-back Brazilian full-back Michel Bastos sustained an arm injury after 21 minutes.
Al Jazira were growing in confidence and had the ball in the back of the net midway through the half but Nelson Valdez’s effort was correctly ruled for offside.
They, however, found themselve sbehind just minutes before the half-time interval courtesy of the prolific Gyan.
Omar Abdulrahman clipped an inviting ball into the penalty area, forcing Khaseif to rush out, only to clatter Jazira defender Ali Al Ameri.
Gyan, who had positioned himself between the two, managed to guide an initial header goalwards, and with the Jazira duo on the deck, the striker followed up to head to the ball into the back of the net for his 15th strike of the season.
Al Ain immediately applied further pressure after the interval in search of a second goal, but Jazira kept their shape and held firm. After the two sides exchanged a few half chances, the hosts produced an equaliser in the 63rd minute – a thumping Juma header nestling into the near corner.
The goal gave Jazira the boost they needed as they went in search of the winner. And they didn’t have to wait long as 10 minutes later, Qasem latched on to a stunning through-ball from Moroccan playmaker Abel Barrada before rounding Al Ain goalkeeper Khalid Eisa and calmly slotting home.
Al Ain tried to force their way back into the contest but aside from a couple of half chances from set pieces, the visitors could not find the equaliser they needed.
There could be some good news on the horizon for Sanchez Flores as West Ham may drop their interest in signing Gyan with the Premier League side on the brink of signing Inter striker Ishak Belfodil on loan for the end of the season.
