Al Jazira kept the Arabian Gulf League title fight alive with a 3-0 win that confirmed Ittihad Kalba’s relegation. In an uninspiring performance from the hosts, goals from Manuel Lanzini, Jonathan Pitroipa and Ali Mabkhout were enough to restore the gap between themselves and leaders Al Ain to four points with five games remaining.
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The scoreline, however, flattered the hosts. Pitroipa’s and Mabkhout’s goals came in the last seven minutes.
Jazira began yesterday knowing Al Ain had struggled to overcome a battling performance from 10-man champions Al Ahli the night before, while third-placed Al Shabab had gone down to a 3-1 defeat at home to Emirates Club. They struggled to break down their determined visitors throughout a laboured performance.
Man of the match Manuel Lanzini opened the scoring just after half-time. Late Jonathan Pitroipa and Ali Mabkhout goals sealed three points
— Matt Jones (@MattJones360) April 3, 2015
The visitors didn’t play as if they were daunted by their task or their battle to stay in the league, Senegal international Papa Waigo in particular requiring the home defence’s full attention.
The 31-year-old rattled the hosts in the 23rd minute when he lofted a shot over Ali Khaseif following a one-two with Yagoub Hassan, only to see his effort rebound off the crossbar.
That had come after Jazira’s best moment. UAE international Mabkhout, who had a largely drab game by his lofty standards, chipped a ball over the defence to Mirko Vucinic who nodded into Lanzini’s path and his poked effort was palmed away by Saif Rashed.
Jonathan Pitroipa a marqué ! http://t.co/ZY6uxYg7GL
— Gugust (@Gugustt) April 3, 2015
Often, Jazira’s problem in games, especially up front, is that they have too much ingenuity and not enough industry. Usually it is Vucinic, their most high profile player, who rolls up his sleeves and digs in.
When the game’s best performer, Lanzini, opened the scoring five minutes into the second half, it looked like it would spark the Pride of Abu Dhabi into life. The goal owed much to Vucinic’s persistence and skill, initially beating Rashed to Lanzini’s lofted ball and then backheeling to the supporting Argentine who poked into the unguarded net.
It was something of a false dawn though as the visitors stuck manfully to their task, Jazira continuing only to frustrate. As Kalba predictably tired they were stretched by their hosts, who gave the scoreline some gloss inside the final 10 minutes. Chances were coming thick and fast.
Pitroipa went narrowly wide with a long-range effort, Mabkhout seeing a header tipped over from a corner and Vucinic heading off target from Pitroipa’s cross.
Mabkhout’s day was summed up in three mad minutes when he somehow contrived to miss horribly when through on goal, before assisting Pitroipa to make it 2-0 and then making the game safe with a solo strike.
The 24-year-old played a neat one-two with the Burkina Faso international who supplied a cool finish to seal the points, then picking up the ball just inside the Kalba half and embarking on a solo run before blasting past Rashed.
Defeat left Kalba 15 points from safety with 15 points to play for, their head-to-head record against thirdbottom Sharjah – defeats home and away – consigning them to Division 1.
They also have easily the most inferior goal difference in the league. Three goals and three points. But on this evidence, Jazira will need to show far more if they are to finish above the Boss.
