Ali Mabkhout says every point 'important' as Al Jazira see off Ajman

Baniyas hold Shabab Al Ahli 0-0 Kalba draw at Al Ain 1-1 and Al Nasr defeat Al Dhafra

Al Jazira striker Ali Mabkhout, left, in action against Ajman. Courtesy PLC

Al Jazira striker Ali Mabkhout believes every point matters as his side battle for the top spot in the Arabian Gulf League.

Three goals in the final quarter of the match secured Al Jazira a 3-0 victory over Ajman at the Mohamed bin Zayed Stadium on Saturday.

Mabkhout's penalty in time added on sandwiched strikes from Zayed Al Ameri and Khalfan Mubarak to lift the Abu Dhabi club to 26 points to trail leaders Sharjah only on goal difference.

“It’s so important to win every point at this stage of the competition,” Mabkhout said after his team’s eighth win of the campaign.

“It’s a very tight group at the top with just six points separating the first four teams, and just eight points separating the top seven with two more rounds left for the halfway stage of the league.

“Tonight, we were made to work hard for this win. It took a very long time to break the deadlock but very happy at the end result.”

Abdalla Ramadan sent an inch-perfect ball to Al Ameri to tap in the opening goal. The Ajman striker William Owusu was sent off after a rough challenge two minutes later.

Jazira pressured the visitor’s defensive line in the dying minutes, and they were awarded a penalty in the 92nd minute for Mabkhout to double the lead before Mubarak rounded off the win.

In the other games, Baniyas held Shabab Al Ahli to a scoreless draw while Kalba drew with Al Ain 1-1 and Al Nasr defeated Al Dhafra 2-0 away.

Wilson Eduardo put Al Ain ahead at the Hazza bin Zayed Stadium after poking in a cross from Yahia Nader on 28 minutes before the visitor’s equalised through substitute Ahmed Jshak.

Nasr’s Portuguese midfielder Toze fired a free kick for a 16th minute lead and an own goal from Dhafra’s Mohammed Saif saw the visitors claim their seventh win to move up to third in the table, three behind Sharjah and Jazira.