Generous Al Jazira split points with Al Wasl

Al Jazira and Al Wasl players tussle for the ball. ©Gulf News

Gulf News - Al Jazira were in no mood to lose or to win. They drew their last two matches squandering all opportunities to snatch the leadership of the first division football league despite the fact that they took almost complete control of the encounter.

On Friday night they drew (1-1) with their trouble ridden visitors, Al Wasl, after squandering chances that came their way, including a penalty, to collect a single point. 

The result increased their tally to 13 points from seven matches with four draws and three victories. Al Wasl collected their fourth point in an equal number of games.

Linesman Nasir Abdullah awarded Al Wasl a controversial goal 16 minutes into the match. 

Argentine Walter Silvani sent Iranian Farhad Majeedi clear and the striker's fierce shot from 32 yards deflected from the bar, hit the ground and zoomed outside.

Abdullah, who was near the centre of the field, was running towards the Al Jazira goal when he signalled for a goal despite the fact that he was in no position to judge whether the ball had crossed the line or not.

Al Jazira, led by King George, were level five minutes later. Abdul Aziz Al Anbary sent Weah clear, breaking the one-line defence of their opponents, only for Weah to lob over the advancing custodian, Salah Hussain, and place the ball into the net for the equaliser.

The equaliser helped boost the morale of the home team but they lacked concentration and squandered many chances especially from James Debbah, who returned after missing all past matches due of injury. 

Debbah was in a hurry to prove himself to the team, as a Nigerian player was playing in his place during his injury and Debbah was in no mood to give up his place to him.

The second half was no different from the first. Pressing attacks from the home team, counter-attacks from the visitors and no goals from both sides. 

The visitors content with the single goal awarded to them, started wasting time from the first half, but the home team have no excuse for not scoring, especially as referee Salah Amin sent off Mohammed Obaid, the visiting defender for handling the ball 30 minutes after the breather. 

The resultant penalty saw Debbah shooting weakly into the hands of goalkeeper Salah Hussain.

Both teams made a number of silly mistakes specially when applying the off side trap. And while Majeedi missed a golden scoring chance for the visitors, Bakhit Saad, Debbah, Weah and Salih Abdullah all missed chances for Al Jazira.

Al Jazira coach Jan Verslygn should have brought in striker Hussain Suhail in the last 15 minutes, but he chose to opt for defender Yousuf Abdullah replacing Al Anbary, the playmaker.

It was the second week that Al Jazira refused to take the lead from Al Ain. Last week they were tied with Al Dhafra, the newly-promoted team from the second division.