Al Jazira off to winning start in Asian Champions League

Nasaf Qarshi 2 Al Jazira 4

Al Jazira proved they are serious about this year's Asian Champions League as Franky Vercauteren's side staged a late rally to beat Nasaf Qarshi 4-2 in Uzbekistan.

After trailing 2-0 inside the opening quarter, goals from Juma Abdullah and Abdulla Mousa drew the UAE club level before the Brazilian pair of Bare and Ricardo Oliveira capped a remarkable turnaround.

With the original fixture on Tuesday called off because of snow, the rearranged match could not have started worse for the Pro League champions, who found themselves 2-0 down in 12 minutes.

Fosil Musayev put Nasaf ahead with just two minutes on the clock and then the defender Sami Rabea put through his own net as Jazira struggled to get a foothold in the game.

Rabea made up for his earlier mistake when he provided the assist for fellow defender Abdullah to reduce the deficit five minutes before the interval.

The goal proved a huge confidence boost to the Abu Dhabi club as they levelled the scores on 69 minutes through Mousa, another defender.

Bare gave the visitors the lead for the first time in the match on 76 minutes and then turned provider for strike partner Oliveira to make it 4-2 to get Jazira off to a winning start in Group A.

sports@thenational.ae