No stopping Al Ahli and Abel Braga takes ‘full responsibility’ for Al Jazira’s continuing slide

Al Ahli 4 Lima 22' (pen), Abbas 48', Al Hammadi 57', Ribeiro 77'

Al Jazira 1 Esmail 42'

Man of the match Everton Ribeiro (Al Ahli)

DUBAI // The Arabian Gulf League’s most expensive signing, a striker with 17 goals in 17 appearances and the division’s only 100 per cent record.

Even Ahmed Khalil, the newly anointed best player in Asia, was used as a substitute. How good is it to be Al Ahli right now?

The Dubai club, runners-up this month in the Asian Champions League, have emphatically consigned that to the past, dispatching Al Jazira 4-1 at the Rashid Stadium on Monday night to make it two domestic victories in four days.

Their recent rude health means Ahli consolidated second spot in the table, but closed to within one point of Al Ain at the summit. Crucially, they still have two games in hand on the champions. Intriguingly, the two meet this Saturday.

Jazira therefore provided a welcome warm-up. The visitors, viewed as title challengers at the season's onset, never mustered much fight and have now gone nearly 11 weeks without a win. They languish 11th in the standings, too.

Predictably, Ahli always had the better of them on a night that began with Khalil receiving a standing ovation for Sunday’s Asian player of the year award. The striker arrived back from India earlier that morning, so he started on the bench, although Ahli need not have worried.

In his absence, Rodrigo Lima, Moussa Sow and Everton Ribeiro linked well, with Lima opening the scoring from the penalty spot to take his tally to 17 goals in as many games. Fares Juma had hauled down Sow, who showed enough to suggest he is slowly settling after Ahli paid a reported €17 million (Dh66m) to recruit him in September.

Khalid Esmail gave Jazira brief hope with a stunning 30-yard free kick before half-time, but it really only delayed the inevitable. Walid Abbas, Ismail Al Hammadi and Ribeiro each struck in the second half. Jazira’s troubles continue, while Ahli have never seemed in better nick.

Man of the match

Everton Ribeiro, Al Ahli The Brazilian was at his inventive best, always keen to create. He got a goal and an assist, but for Lima’s uncharacteristic wastefulness, he would have had more.

What the managers said

Cosmin Olaroiu, Ahli: “In the first half, tell me what we can do? We did everything, made chances, shot from everywhere. I cannot tell them to play in a different way, just to do this. We played one of our best games. I cannot judge Jalzira, but I can tell you we did very well. We have to continue, to forget, stand up and go again.”

Abel Braga, Jazira: “Bottom line, I take full responsibly for losing games. We need time and I’m sure we’ll get it to come through this moment. We have full support from the management. Everything is fine with my relationship with the players and we will continue with the same philosophy. Hopefully we will do better in the future.”

The National’s verdict

This was yet another endorsement of Ahli’s championship credentials, coming at an opportune time with that top-of-the-table clash against Al Ain later this week. Jazira, meanwhile, have real problems, leaky at the back and with Ali Mabkhout isolated up front.

jmcauley@thenational.ae

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