DUBAI // Late strikes from Abdullah Mousa and Ahmed Jumaa powered Al Jazira to a 3-2 win last night over Emirates, the defending champions, and into the President's Cup semi-finals.
Mousa headed a dipping free-kick from Matias Delgado and Jumaa, a late substitute, scored from close range off a short pass from Ibrahim Diaky to complete the win at the Al Ahli club. Ricardo Oliveira had put Jazira ahead in the 45th minute but Nabil Daoudi levelled in the 49th.
Emirates kept the game alive with an injury-time header from Daoudi, the Moroccan forward, but Jazira hung on to win.
"We played really bad," said Abel Braga, the Jazira coach. "My players took this game very lightly and nearly paid a heavy price for it."
Emirates were relegated from the Pro League last year and play in the First Division. However, their surprise President's Cup victory in 2010 put them into the Asian Champions League, and they open the tournament at Zob Ahan of Iran on Wednesday.
"We were the better team but we couldn't convert the chances we created into goals," said Ghazi Garriri, their Algerian coach.
"We can take a lot of positives from this game when we go into the ACL. It is a big step up for us but we want to give a good account of our team. And this is a great opportunity."
Oliveira, the Pro League's most expensive player, at Dh85 million, opened the scoring from a long ball from Subait Khater. The Brazilian controlled the ball off his heel and moved into the area with superb control to unleash a powerful shot past Ahmed Ibrahim, the Emirates goalkeeper.
Al Shabab also booked passage into the semi-finals last night with a 3-0 victory over Al Dhaid of the First Division. Essa Obaid scored in the 29th minute at Sharjah on a cross from Jociel Ferreira, and the Brazilian Julio Cesar scored in the 78th and 82nd minutes for the Pro League side.
Al Wahda and Al Wasl meet in one semi at Zayed Stadium in Abu Dhabi on March 20, and Jazira and Shabab meet one night later at the same site.