Stand-in striker Hassan Mohammed notched a superb late header to salvage a draw for Al Wasl against fallen champions Al Jazira, but critical ground in the Arabian Gulf League’s title race continues to be lost.
In the absences of star attackers Caio Canedo and Ali Mabkhout for both teams, Brazilian forward Romarinho’s sharp instincts had put the Pride of Abu Dhabi ahead in first-half injury-time.
Here, we examine the main talking points:
CHEETAHS KEEP THEIR BITE
A tight ship is run at Wasl, meaning the bottom line is more important than breaking budget.
Their squad is, certainly, not as deep as title rivals Al Ain or Al Wahda and the one-match ban for 12-goal striker Caio Canedo threatened to sink them against Jazira.
Instead, Cheetahs replacement Hassan Mohammed notched a fine leveller. Substitutes Anthony Caceres and Mohamed Surour turned a losing midfield battle around.
They might well have enough to keep this a three-way fight.
في الدقيقة 84 .. الامبراطور ينتفض
— قناة أبوظبي الرياضية (@ADSportsTV) February 7, 2018
الوصل يسجل هدف التعادل في مرمى الجزيرة #الوصل_الجزيرة pic.twitter.com/7p8ZFdk2Rv
ONLY PRIDE TO PLAY FOR
The AGL has witnessed some wretched title defences in recent years.
Al Ain limped home sixth in 2013/14. Al Ahli finished a place (seventh) and five points worse off (38) the following season.
Current holders Jazira did surprisingly well on Wednesday night. They rattled the woodwork twice and went ahead through Romarinho’s tap-in.
But the institutional chaos which has gripped them is summed up by bargain-basement Oman internationals Harib Al Saadi and Mohammed Al Musalami coming in during a winter that saw stellar summer additions Ahmed Khalil and Lassana Diarra alarmingly exit.
They could end the round in sixth, a cavernous 16 points from the top.
Fabio De Lima (r) did not have his usual influence for Al Wasl.
RESTLESS RODOLFO
Wasl coach Rodolfo Arruabarrena cut a surprisingly skittish figure.
The ex-Argentina full-back was coiled like a spring on the touchline. A tactics board also looked like it was about to be snapped during the interval.
Maybe Jazira have this effect on him – he’s recorded no wins in five meetings. Or maybe it’s the dawning reality of a probable six-point deficit to Al Ain, with only six games left?
بعد أن أخطأ سلطان المنذري حارس مرمى الوصل في استقبال قذيقة العطاس..
— قناة أبوظبي الرياضية (@ADSportsTV) February 7, 2018
رومارينهو يتقدم بالهدف الأول للجزيرة في مرمى الوصل
وفي الدقيقة 45 من الشوط الأول#الوصل_الجزيرة pic.twitter.com/wDNXqb2JzJ
