Al Jazira 1 Emirates 0
ABU DHABI // Walter Zenga, the Al Jazira coach, was just happy to get three points on the board despite an underwhelming 1-0 victory at home to Emirates.
“It is normal for everyone to assume we were playing against an easy opponent but it was a very tough game for us,” the Italian said after his team scored the only goal as the result of a goalkeeper’s blunder last night.
Zenga said the victory made up for the disappointment of going out of the President’s Cup four days ago.
“The players were under a lot of pressure after losing to Al Wahda, which I thought we didn’t deserve, in the President’s Cup four days ago.
“So it was a relief to win the three points from this game. We can take the result and the fact we didn’t concede a goal as the positives from this game.”
Abdulla Moosa, the Emirates goalkeeper and captain, dropped the ball from a corner from Khalfan Al Rezzy and Ricardo Oliveira, the Brazilian forward, showed lightning-quick reactions in front of the posts to score just before the break at Mohammed bin Zayed Stadium.
“We created a lot of chances but finally we had to win from a crazy goal,” Zenga said.
“We were fortunate to win but when you look back, we were not very lucky against Wahda. And in my first league game in charge, we were leading 2-0 against Dubai and then drew 2-2 at the end.
“So it is good to come out from this game with three points. We shouldn’t take anything away from Emirates. They played a good game under a new coach.”
Zenga provided opportunities to two of his 18 year olds –Al Rezzy, who was given his first start in the top flight, and Ahmed Rabea – in place of regular starters Subait Khater and Nelson Valdez.
“I thought it was good opportunity to give the youngsters a chance,” he said.
“I am looking for the future of the club. Ahmed has had a start earlier and had played a few games coming from the bench. For Khalfan it was a good experience.”
It was a second defeat in four days for Paulo Comelli, the new Brazilian coach of Emirates.
“We didn’t deserve to lose this match the way we played,” he said. “Jazira are a strong team and they defended well. I didn’t have much time with two games played within four days. The team showed remarkable improvement from the last game and I am sure they will improve further in the coming games.”
Comelli took over from the Emirati Eid Baroot and his first game in charge ended in a 3-1 defeat to the defending champions Al Ahli in the President’s Cup last Tuesday.
“We had to play two games in four days only a few days after I took charge,” he said.
“As I can see from this game I can say the players are motivated by the change.
“They had previously played the long ball but now we are trying to change that to play more compact and the short passing game.”
Al Dhafra 3 Dubai 2
Two goals from Makhete Diop and own goal by Mohammed Malalla saw Al Dhafra twice come from behind to beat Dubai.
Hassan Al Hammadi’s own goal opened the scoring for the visitors but it was 1-1 at the break after Diop’s first strike.
Faisal Ali put Dubai in front again on 55 minutes, but by the 68th minute it was 3-2 to Dhafra.
Ajman 2 Al Wahda 2
Jose Peseiro is still yet to taste league victory as Al Wahda manager as the Portuguese saw his side throw away a two-goal lead to draw at Ajman.
Ismail Matar (4) and Eisa Ahmed (52) had put Wahda two up, but Simon Feindouno’s screamer on 55 minutes pulled one back.
Haddaf Abdulla then made it 2-2 with 13 minutes left which means Wahda have now lost once and drawn three times in the AGL since Peseiro took over from Karel Jarolim.
For more Arabian Gulf League news visit thenational.ae/agl
