ABU DHABI // Al Jazira reduced the gap between them and leaders Al Ain to four points last night with a 3-0 home victory over Kalba, the relegation-bound side stuck at the bottom of the Arabian Gulf League table.
Jazira retained their chance of catching Al Ain, with five rounds left in the season, but they were made to work for it by a disciplined Kalba side.
Afterwards, Eric Gerets, Jazira’s coach, summed up the evening before a question could be asked. “Bad game. Worst game this season. Very good result.”
By half time, Jazira still had not found the net, and their frustration was becoming evident. Kalba created the best chance of the half when Papa Waigo struck the crossbar after lobbing Ali Kashief.
Manuel Lanzini finally broke Kalba’s resistence. On 49 minutes, he managed to tap in Mirko Vucinic’s cutback from two yards.
On 82 minutes, Jazira winger Jonathan Pitroipa put the game to bed when his one-two with Ali Mabkhout allowed him to find the net from 12 yards. Mabkhout rounded off the game with the third in the 84th minute. He drove into the box, smashing a shot past the near post from 16 yards.
Even with the late flourish, Gerets was not impressed.
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“It was not Jazira, the level of Al Jazira, normally,” he said. “This is first time this season we will not see the video tomorrow.”
When questioned why he did not give some of his reserves a run out in a match like this, Gerets said: “It was a very difficult game. As long as you have a chance to be champion, you must play or start with the best 11, in your opinion.”
He also reiterated that the race is not over.
“We know now it will be very difficult, but not impossible,” the Belgian said.
After they had settled the game, Jazira could have made Kalba’s evening even worse. Mabkhout’s late cross was smashed against the bar by Vucinic on 85 minutes.
Waleed Obaid, Kalba’s coach, said: “We could not match the same level of talent as their players. The pressure exhausted our players.” But he applauded their effort, saying: “Thank you to my players for their performance.”
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