New Al Jazira signing Mbark Boussoufa was impressive as the Pride of Abu Dhabi’s pre-season preparations continued with a 4-3 victory against Bahrain’s East Riffa.
The Morocco international scored a penalty and had a growing influence on proceedings, while youngsters Ahmed Rabeya, Khalfan Mubarak and Mohamed Jamal also shone last night.
Rabeya, who would later hobble off, calmly poked home the opener on the half hour. The visitors were level before half time when Faisal Bodhom Riffa chased a lost cause, his looping header back across goal nodded in by Abdulla Yusuf.
The hosts restored their lead before the break through Boussoufa, the 32-year-old calmly stroking home a penalty after Rabeya was tripped.
Brazilian Joao Luiz restored parity from 12 yards when Jefferson Farfan handled, but he atoned by pouncing on Mubarak’s dangerous cross to make it 3-2 minutes later. Jamal then played in Rabeya to round the keeper and make it 4-2.
Jazira were dominating, Boussoufa pulling the strings, but coach Henk ten Cate let out an audible scream when Riffa pulled one back right at the death through Sami Al Hosani.
