ABU DHABI // Baniyas struck another blow to Al Jazira’s title challenge when they came back from two goals down to salvage a 2-2 draw at home.
Jazira’s second successive draw, following the humiliating defeat to promoted Dibba, leaves them in seventh place on eight points, seven behind leaders Al Ain after six games.
Abel Braga, the Jazira manager, is still confident his team can challenge for the title, despite the recent poor results. “It is still early in the season and these results haven’t dented our ambitions of staying positive of our league aspirations,” the Brazilian said.
“This was not a game we deserved to lose because we had three straightforward chances to score, and we missed them.”
Braga also substituted his key forwards — Mirko Vucinic, Thiago Neves and Ali Mabkhout — in the last quarter of the game.
Braga defended that decision.
“We tried something different when things were not going well for us,” he said. “We brought some fresh legs in attack and push for the winner but still we couldn’t score.”
Jazira headed into the break with a 2-0 lead courtesy Park Jong-woo and Vucinic.
The Montenegrin forward sent a pass through the middle to Park, who struck a low shot into the back of the net. The provider turned the scorer when he tapped in a cross from Jefferson Farfan for a 2-0 lead.
However, Ishak Belfodil and Joaquin Larrivey struck twice within seven minutes for the home side to come straight back to the game.
Mark Milligan’s powerfully struck shot was blocked by Ali Kasheif, the Jazira goalkeeper, Fawaz Awana headed the rebound across goal and Belfodil nodded home.
Larrivey then volleyed in a fiercely-struck cross from Royston Drenthe for the equaliser.
Luis Garcia, the Baniyas coach, said his instructions during the break were for his players to just continue what they did in the first half.
“I think we were a bit unlucky not to score at least one goal in the first half but my players more than made up for that in the second half,” the Spaniard said.
“It was a good entertaining match for the fans. I thought the game would end up on 4-4 because both teams created many chances throughout the game. I’m satisfied with a point with Jazira.”
Saturday’s other results
Al Wasl 5-1 Fujairah
Al Dhafra 2-3 Emirates
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