The National's Sport cover for the Monday, May 10 issue, featuring Al Jazira as they finished their Arabian Gulf League season on a high with a win to seal second place.
After a lacklustre run-in, Al Jazira bounced back on the season’s final day to secure an automatic Asian Champions League group round place – important, considering they were tripped up in the play-off into the group round this year after finishing third last season.
Jonathan Pitroipa netted a hat-trick and Ali Mabkhout had the fourth in the 4-2 victory over Al Wasl.
“It will serve as little consolation, for now at least, but Al Jazira have emerged from the 2014/15 Arabian Gulf League as the country’s second-best side.
“The Abu Dhabi club always wanted something more from the season, having spent lavishly last summer, but in the end they had to settle not for the top-flight trophy but for the title of best of the rest.”
Jazira manager Eric Gerets told him: “When we started the league our target was to be on the podium – we are not only on the podium, we did better than last year’s third place.
“Every year we go one spot up. It can be very nice next season.”
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