Saif goal seals Al Wahda win against crisis-stricken Al Jazira

This ominous feeling was increased on Friday night when the faltering Pride of Abu Dhabi failed to live up to their billing as substitute Sultan Saif popped up deep into injury time to claim the bragging rights for AFC Champions League-chasing Al Wahda with a 2-1 win.

The vanquished are in a harrowing position, just two places and three points off the drop zone. Once again, misery was in plentiful supply.

The hurt from a last-gasp loss was added to by the earlier decision – which looked justified – not to award a goal on 47 minutes when Sultan Al Shamsi’s corner appeared to cross the line.

“We were unlucky and we didn’t deserve,” said boss Henk ten Cate, who suffered a first loss during his third match in charge. “I heard from those who watched the game on television that the corner from Sultan Al Shamsi had actually crossed the goalline and I don’t understand why the referee standing behind didn’t award the goal to us.

“Wahda were stronger in the second half. They created a few chances more than us but on the contrary we too created a few from the counter attacks.

“We scored, but the referee didn’t give it. So this is real bad luck.”

For Wahda, they could celebrate with glee about a late victory which propels them into the mix for AFC Champions League qualification.

Boss Javier Aguirre urged his inconsistent fifth-placed side to repeat more nights like this one rather than last weekend’s meek 1-0 loss at rivals Al Shabab.

He said: “We created a lot of scoring chances but even though we didn’t have the luck to score more, we did manage to get one in the added time. We will keep fighting for the top four-spot.”

More woe for Jazira seemed inevitable after January buy Angel Lafita’s miscued header from close range was followed by an excellently-worked opener for the hosts at a sparsely-populated Al Nahyan Stadium.

AGL top scorer Sebastian Tagliabue raced onto UAE centre-back Hamdan Al Kamali’s hopeful punt, unselfishly cutting back for Chile playmaker Jorge Valdivia to flick in off the exposed Ali Khaseif for his fourth AGL effort since his heralded summer switch.

The hurt from a last-gasp, derby loss was added to by the earlier decision – which looked justified – not to award a goal on 47 minutes when Sultan Al Shamsi’s corner appeared to cross the line.

Jazira would have buckled immediately under previous incumbent Abel Braga. New belief from Ten Cate ensured heads did not drop.

Ali Mabkhout’s driving run forced a solid stop from Adel Al Hosani. The UAE forward would soon cash in from on the goal line, getting in between young defensive midfielder Mohamed Al Abdulla and Al Hosani to barrel in Al Shamsi’s in-swinging corner on 34 minutes.

They then were millimetres away from going ahead straight after the restart. Tagliabue strangely ducked under a Sultan Al Shamsi corner, goalkeeper Adel Al Hosani desperately keeping the whole ball from crossing the line with his feet.

This heart-racing moment only provided a temporary adrenaline boost. Problems remain plentiful for Jazira, who saw Thiago Neves put in another invisible display and Kenwyne Jones look isolated up top.

A stalemate seemed certain as the clock ticked past the 90-minute mark. The visitors only needed to stay firm for three more minutes – this proved too much for them.

Defensive midfielder Sultan Al Ghaferi was left unopposed as he lashed in a shot from 20 yards, Abdulla Mousa’s block falling perfectly for a grateful Saif to write his name into Wahda history.