It was not exactly the swashbuckling response Henk ten Cate might have hoped for following a 4-0 humbling by Tractor Sazi in their AFC Champions League opener four days previously, but a place in the last eight will suffice.
The game bucked the trend of the opening weekend of the President’s Cup, which had seen goals galore, with 40 netted at 5.7 per game in seven previous matches.
Just one was enough in the final round-of-16 match, Jazira’s victory coming courtesy star man Ali Mabkhout, who nonchalantly slotted home a first-half penalty.
The game hinged, however, on another penalty that was not awarded to Dhafra in the second half.
Bustling Senegal forward Makhete Diop wanted one in the 68th minute when he slalomed between Jazira centre-backs Musallem Fayez and Fares Juma.
He was brought down by the latter’s leg, but referee Mohammed Obaid Khadim waved away Dhafra’s vehement calls when he should have instead pointed to the spot.
The tale of the game was also one of two contrasting halves, a first in which Jazira opened the scoring very much against the run of play, but dominated the second and should have added to their lead.
The Western Knights, scrapping for their lives near the foot of the Arabian Gulf League table, dominated possession and chances in the opening 45 minutes, with Diop’s header crossing the line although the linesman’s flag came to Jazira’s rescue.
Mohamad Kwid’s side really should have led, Abdulla Al Naqbi going so close to breaking the deadlock when he advanced through midfield and unleashed a 30-yard rocket that had Ali Khaseif well beaten, as well as the crossbar, just.
He then missed a gilt-edge chance three minutes later when he skied Diop’s cut-back over the bar.
Sultan Al Shamsi had earlier missed a good chance for Jazira, firing well over when found in space by the lively Thiago Neves.
Having not taken their chances, there seemed a certain inevitability about the opener five minutes before the break.
Striker Kenwyne Jones was inexplicably pushed to the ground by midfielder Adil Hermach, Mabkhout was calmness personified as he trotted up to the spot and calmly swept into the bottom left corner.
The goal was number 16 of the season for the in-form 25-yearold and would go on to help Jazira record a fifth win under Ten Cate.
His side were far better after the interval, Park Jong-woo, Neves and Mabkhout all threatening a second within minutes of the restart.
The fragility of their lead was emphasised in the 57th minute when Diop played in Syrian team-mate Omar Khrbin. His first effort was brilliantly blocked by Khaseif and his second was going in until Yaqoub Al
Hosani’s goal-line clearance.
Dhafra’s penalty claim came and went but after that Jazira were fairly comfortable, Jones and Neves particularly guilty of failing to put the game to bed.
