Abu Dhabi: Caio Fernandes and Jamal Maroof both scored as Al Ain defeated Al Jazira 2-0, at the Mohamed Bin Zayed Stadium in matchweek 3 of the Arabian Gulf Cup Group B.
The game got off to a quick start, when Al Ain’s Saad Khamis received a well-placed through pass behind Al Jazira’s defence on the left wing. The youngster’s powerful left footed effort was brilliantly blocked by Adel Abu Baker in the 15th minute.
Three minutes into the second half, Fernandes dribbled skillfully past the Pride of Abu Dhabi’s backline, and sent a defence-splitting pass to Maroof, whose clever ground cross found Tsukasa Shiotani. The Japanese’s right-footed miscued shot missed the target from a close range.
Fernandes was once again the centre of attention for the Boss, when he controlled Mohnad Salem’s accurate long through pass and went past Abu Baker, before finishing the ball into the empty net.
Maroof secured the full three points for the away side in the dying moments of the game, when he converted Mohamed Fathy’s in-swinging low cross into the back of Abu Baker’s net, making it 2-0 for the Boss.
The win takes Al Ain to Group B’s second spot with six points, just three points behind group leaders Al Nasr, meanwhile, the Pride of Abu Dhabi sit fourth with four points.
Meanwhile, Yahya Jabran’s penalty gave Dibba the three points in a 1-0 victory over Ittihad Kalba in matchweek 3 of the Arabian Gulf Cup Group A.
The Moroccan midfielder converted from the spot 20 minutes into the match after his countryman Driss Fettouhi was brought down inside the box.
Giovanni Sio came closest for the Tigers on multiple occasions, but goalkeeper Abdullah Hassan was well positioned to rescue from the Ivorian in the 34th minute and again in the 52nd minute.
Dibba climbed out of the bottom of Group A with the three points, while Ittihad Kalba drop down to fifth with one point, only goal difference keeping them afloat of last-placed Al Wasl.
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