Al Jazira leave it late again

For the second time in a week Al Jazira escape with an injury time goal, this time against the promoted Al Khaleej

SHARJAH // For the second time in a week Al Jazira escaped with an injury time goal, this time against the promoted Al Khaleej, whom they thrashed 6-1 two weeks ago in the league. Facing them in the Group B opener in Khor Fakkan, Abel Braga's men led twice, through Abbas Mowiwa Lawal and Tarek Bilal, before Ibrahim Diaky's injury time goal, to complete a fine hat- trick, clinched a 3-2 victory.

They beat Al Wasl similarly last weekend and the coach Braga was left relieved. "It was awfully close again but it only goes on to show the team's ability to win matches even on the death. "I warned my players to guard against complacency because I knew Khaleej can be a different team at home and they just about proved it. But all's well that ends well and I'm really happy the way it ended for us."

Al Dhafra are proving to be a side that all the top teams will have to respect after they held Sharjah to a 1-1 draw. Saleh al Minhali put them ahead before Mousa Hateb's equaliser late on. [e-mail]