Etisalat Cup round-up: Andre Senghor leaves Al Jazira frustrated

Fernandinho and Ricardo Oliveira score for Al Jazira but it is the equaliser by Andre Senghor in stoppage time that leaves them wanting and forces a draw with Baniyas.

Andre Senghor of Baniyas goes up for a header against Al Jazira. Senghor hit a stoppage time goal to force a draw on Jazira and move Baniyas to the top of Group B by a point in the Etisalat Cup tournaShow more

AL JAZIRA 2

BANIYAS 2

Jazira Fernandinho 19',

Oliveira 39'
Baniyas Jaber 22',
Senghor 90'+3

Red card Fahad Sebil (Baniyas)

Man of the match
Ricardo Oliveira (Al Jazira)

ABU DHABI // An injury time goal by Andre Senghor spoilt Fernandinho's party.

Fernandinho ended a frustrating period with a well-struck first goal in domestic competition but Senghor fired home a late free kick for Baniyas to snatch a 2-2 draw on Wednesday night against Al Jazira in their Etisalat Cup tie at the Mohammed bin Zayed Stadium.

The Brazilian opened the scoring and Ricardo Oliveira regained the lead for Jazira after Yousuf Jaber had equalised. But Senghor's strike meant the game ended all square, even though Khalid Sebil had a chance to win the match for the capital club in the dying secondsbut his effort from 25 yards ricocheted off a post.

There was relief on Fernandinho's face after ending his 18-game drought. He raised his hands towards the sky before pointing them towards the dugout to indicate he finally has scored for them.

He was given an emotional embrace by his compatriot Oliveira, who set him up for the goal.

The former AC Milan forward punched a hole on the Baniyas defence to send Fernandinho scooting inside the box and score his first goal in spectacular style. He drew Mohsin Al Hashmi, the Baniyas goalkeeper, out of position and tapped in the ball into the back of an empty net.

Jazira's lead was short lived as Jaber curled in the equaliser. But Oliveira regained the lead five minutes before the break with a powerful header from a Matias Delgado cross. Baniyas were unlucky not to get their second equaliser early in the second half when Senghor's header off a cross crashed against the far post. Fahad Sebil, the Baniyas defender, was sent off for his second yellow card six minutes from time.

The result took Baniyas to the top of the Group B on 10 points, one more than Al Dhafra and Al Wasl with Jazira on eight. It was an action-packed first half with both goalkeepers were kept busy throughout the 90 minutes.

Al Hashmi, the Baniyas stopper, did well to block a couple of stinging shots from inside the box from Delgado and Oliveira, twice, in the first half and again four minutes from time.

And Ahmed Ali Mubarak, the Jazira keeper, was in the spotlight with some excellent work between the posts. His best effort was to push out a close range effort from Senghor in a one-on-one.

AL DHAFRA, AL AIN AND AL WAHDA GRAB WINS

Al Dhafra's 3-2 home victory over Al Wasl has thrown the Etisalat Cup Group B wide open.

Anas Bani Yaseen put the Dhafra ahead in the 16th minute, Makhete Diop doubled the lead 12 minutes later and Abdulraheem Jumaa made it 3-0 in the 56th minute.

A late fight back saw Amar Mubarak, the Wasl substitute, and Emiliano Alfaro close the gap with goals in the 86th and 88th minute.

The win sees Dhafra leapfrog Wasl to go second, a point behind Baniyas.

Elsewhere, Mohammed Al Saedi scored twice in Al Ain's 2-1 win over Dubai. Al Saedi struck in the second minute and was on target again in the 78th. Rami Yaslam scored a consolation goal for Dubai five minutes from time.

Al Wahda stay in command of Group A following their 2-1 victory over bottom-dwellers Al Shaab, who are still searching for their first win in the Etisalat Cup tournament group stage.