(MENAFN- Khaleej Times)Al Ain rallied from a two-goal deficit to hold Al Jazira to a 2-2 draw in the Capital Derby of the Arabian Gulf Cup at the Mohammed bin Zayed Stadium on Friday night.
Montenegro international Mirko Vucinic last season's League top scorer had given Al Jazira the lead on 25 minutes and they went into the break with a two-goal cushion after new signing Thiago Neves scored the second in first half stoppage time. But Al Ain reduced the margin through former Ajax and Liverpool winger Ryan Babel who scored from the spot on 65 minutes. Substitute Saeed Al Kathiri previously with Al Wahda then came up with a brilliant header on 74 minutes to cancel out Al Jazira's lead in this Group B fixture. A derby it might have been but it was missing its sheen as a total of 21 players were absent both sides included. Al Ain were the most hit with 12 of their players away on international duty while nine were unavailable for Al Jazira. But Al Jazira coped better with the absences at least in the first half when they created a flurry of opportunities. The Pride of Abu Dhabi came sniffing as early as the ninth minute when playmaker Neves who joined from Saudi Arabian club Al Hilal fired a superb cross from the left. All it needed was a deflection but fellow new signing Jefferson Farfan couldn't get a touch and nor did goalkeeper Mahmoud Al Mas. Neves was at the heart of most of Al Jazira's attempts and he later was to see his curling left-footed freekick sail over the far end of the cross bar on 19 minutes. A minute later Mahmoud Al Mas made a brilliant save to deny Neves after the Brazilian had latched on to a rebound after Farfan's attempt had hit the woodwork. Al Jazira broke the deadlock five minutes later through Vucinic who timed his foray well and chested in Neves' curling freekick. Al Ain who were bested through the half had a chance on 40 minutes when Babel slipped in from the left and tried to tee it up for Emmanuel Emenike but veteran defender Basheer Saeed had it covered. But it was Al Jazira who would go into the break with another goal with Neves getting on the scoresheet. Neves played a neat one-two with Vucinic on the right before tapping it home. Al Ain showed more purpose in the second half and came close on 56 minutes when Fawzi Fayez sent a low ball from the right. Emenike tried to guide it in from close range but it went wide of the post. Al Ain were then denied by the woodwork when Fellipe Bastos' superb freekick hit the left post on 59 minute. The Garden City club were handed a way back into the game after defender Juma Abdulla tugged at Al Kathiri's jersey. The referee pointed to the spot and Babel duly converted. And they went on to nullify Al Jazira's lead through Al Kathiri who was in the perfect spot and position to head it home after Rashed Eisa had sent an inch perfect cross from the right. Al Ain could have ended the game as winners but Rashed Eisa's powerful shot took a deflection off Abdulla Mousa and hit the woodwork with seven minutes left.
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