Jazira strike late to seal 4-3 thriller

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  • Entertaining spectacle: Al Jazira coach Eric Gerets was buoyant after his side's last minute winner.

    Few games will thrill like this seven-goal classic during the remainder of the Arabian Gulf League season, Ali Mabkhout's 93rd-minute winner sealing a memorable hat-trick and enlivening 4-3 victory for Al Jazira at Al Shabab.

    The momentum swung wildly, the visitors to Maktoum bin Rashid Al Maktoum Stadium racing into a two-goal lead only to fall 3-2 behind on the hour mark. The Pride of Abu Dhabi refused to buckle, UAE forward Mabkhout taking centre stage to send them top.

    This was a night when the high-flying duo's title aspirations were put to the test. In truth, there were few fresh insights to glean.

    Shabab are the better unit, while Jazira have the standout players. But we knew this already.

    Can either now head off a more-rounded Al Ain over 26 matches?

    A game to savour featured seven goals of varying quality. Mabkhout and two-goal Henrique Luvannor were the stars, Jazira's Argentine playmaker Manuel Lanzini deserving a mention for the dancing feet that created his delightful effort.

    Shabab have been the surprise success story of the campaign thus far. Their early victory at champions Al Ahli showed Caio Junior's smartly-engineered side intend to battle for honours with the better-resourced giants.

    A test came with the visit of porous heavyweights Al Jazira. It was one they failed, in a devastating manner.

    The Pride of Abu Dhabi are certainly not as well-balanced as the Hawks, a second injury-time winner in three high-scoring games paying testament. Last night, a flaky defence that has only conceded less than bottom three was bailed out, yet again, by a breathtaking attack.

    A few crosses had already caused panic in a make-shift Pride of Abu Dhabi rearguard – featuring Abdullah Mousa shunted inside to centre-back – when star striker Mirko Vucinic thumped a clearance from a corner wildly up the field.

    Mabkhout stuck up a high boot just inside his own half to the consternation of full-back Manei Mohamed, the referee playing on to see the UAE forward fire in when clear on goal.

    The lead was soon in eye-catching fashion. Lanzini marked his return to the side, alongside goalkeeper Ali Khaseif and Vucinic, with a deft step on the edge of the box that fooled two defenders and created space to sweep in.

    So far, so good for Jazira. But their advantage was gone three minutes into a stretched second half.

    Moldova forward Luvannor contorted his neck to head inside the far post from a corner before the break to give hope. Parity imbued belief, on-rushing Uzbekistan international midfielder Azizbek Haydarov levelling with a low effort that deflected crucially off Musallem Fayez's toes.

    The wind was in Shabab's sails, their opponents from the capital wilting once more. A memorable win seemed in their grasp when Luvannor secured his brace on the hour-mark, beating Mousa to fire in after a one-two with striker Edgar.

    Shabab were ahead for the first time on a roller-coaster evening. Jazira's defensive ails must be contagious, a soft leveller arriving five minutes later.

    Vucinic swiped at a low corner and found the unmarked Mabkhout on the far post tap in. The Gulf Cup's leading marksman was never going to decline such an opportunity.

    The best was yet to come, a superhuman leap allowing him to nod in Jonathan Pitroipa's cross three minutes into injury time.

    Coach Eric Gerets raised his arms, team-mates swamping the forward. They knew their saviour had bailed them out.

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