ABU DHABI // Ali Mabkhout and Sultan Bargash, both second-half substitutes, were the Al Jazira heroes last night after their goals in the final few minutes of the Etisalat Cup final gave the Abu Dhabi powerhouses victory. Mabkhout, replacing the off-colour Rafael Sobis, hammered home Subait Khater's through ball from the edge of the box to break the deadlock. Bargash then added the second in injury time from the penalty spot.
The Etisalat Cup triumph is Jazira's first silverware since their UAE Federation Cup and Gulf Club Championship wins in 2007. Bridesmaid in the league for three consecutive years, Abel Braga's side were determined to finish the season with a trophy. But Ajman, who were relegated to Division One after finishing bottom of the Pro League with only eight points, were equal in tenacity and unrelenting.
Saleh Abdullah, however, almost broke through the resolute Ajman defence with a thundering left-footer from nearly 30 yards out in the 29th minute. Unfortunately for Jazira, the ball bounced off the crossbar. Stung by the effort, Boris Kaabi and Mohammed Abdul Kader sprinted into the Jazira box two minutes later, but the latter failed to finish. Almost immediately, the action moved to the other side as Subait Khater, a livewire in the field, sprinted down the middle and passed the ball for Toni. The striker bolted through and put in a deft flick to the far corner. The ball deflected off the right post and was trickling in, but Mohammed Yakoub managed to rush in and clear. A few more chances came Jazira's way in the early parts of the second half, but Khater cannoned the ball over and Ibrahim Diaky failed to find the target in a goalmouth melee.
Mohammed Hussain, Ajman's goalkeeper, then stopped a well-guided header from Khater in the 70th minute to raise the prospects of extra-time. However, eight minutes from time Jazira managed to finally breach the Ajman defence and soothe the fraying nerves of their fans. Disappointed by Sobis's performance, they had been screaming for him to be replaced by Mabkhout. Braga eventually decided to make that call and it proved to be decisive.
Mabkhout found himself in the right spot in the 82nd to receive Khater's neat set-up and he fired home to the delight of Jazira fans. With the result sealed, Bargash won a penalty and converted it for a healthier winning margin. arizvi@thenational.ae