Al Jazira leave it late to stun AGL champions Al Ain

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  • (Pro League Committee).

    Substitute Yaqoub Yousef was the unlikely 90th-minute hero for Al Jazira as they battled back from behind late on to claim a famous 2-1 derby win at then-unbeaten Arabian Gulf League champions Al Ain.

    Saturday night’s impassioned ‘Al Clasico’ clash at Hazza bin Zayed Stadium came to life on 33 minutes when Sweden centre forward Marcus Berg drilled the ball into the bottom corner.

    The hosts, however, failed to build on this momentum against opponents denied the services of prolific UAE striker Ali Mabkhout through injury. A late salvo would turn the 2018/19 season on its head.

    Brazilian winger Leonardo had also been a serious doubt, but he rasped in a trademark long-distance free-kick on 85 minutes to cue rampant celebrations from ex-Ajax boss Marcel Keizer’s staff.

    Even better would come on the stroke of injury time as defensive midfielder Yousef – a former Boss player – notched his first AGL strike since 2008/09 in memorable fashion with an audacious left-footed curler.

    The victory moved them level on 14 points with leaders Sharjah, who could only draw 1-1 with Ajman.

    Uzbekistan midfielder Otabek Shukurov struck from inside the penalty box early on for the King. Nigerian striker Stanley Ohawuchi then stabbed home a hard-fought equaliser at the death.

    Strugglers Al Dhafra stunned last term’s runners-up Al Wahda with an entertaining 4-2 triumph.

    The Western Knights went 3-0 up by just 23 minutes.

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