Dubai: Ali Mabkhout continued with his unabated scoring prowess to guide title aspirants Al Jazira temporarily to the top of the Arabian Gulf League (AGL) with a 7-3 thrashing of ten-man Al Shabab in tenth round league action on Saturday.
Easily one of the stand-out performers in the AGL this season, Mabkhout took his tally to 14 goals despite missing a first half penalty, and yet finding enough space to net twice apiece on either side of half-time to bag four goals in the high-scoring encounter.
Mabkhout scored in the eighth and 25th minutes of the first half, missed a penalty in the 45th minute, and then recovered his composure to add another two in the 54th and 80th minutes to complete the rout.
Mabkhout got adequate support from his well-organised teammates with Khalfan Mubarak (23rd minute), Mubarak Boussoufa (72nd) and Faris Juma (84th) further denting any hopes of a revival from the Al Mamzar club, who had been reduced to ten men after Mohammad Ayed’s second yellow card at the end of the first half itself.
Perhaps, the only saving grace for the home side was a hat-trick from their Argentinian playmaker Tomas De Vincenti, who scored in the 27th, 70th and second half injury period minute to bring some respectability in the high-scoring encounter.
The margin of victory could have been much bigger and Mabkhout could have ended up with even more goals, had he not be denied from the penalty spot by Al Shabab goalkeeper Salem Abdullah towards the end of the first half.
The result helped Al Jazira temporarily overtake Al Wasl at the top of the standings. The Pride of Abu Dhabi now has 23 points — one more than the club from Al Zabeel — and a game in hand against last week’s AFC Champions League runners-up Al Ain.
However, that situation may well change after Al Wasl undertake the long journey to the Garden city for their match against Al Ain in Sunday’s late match.
Reduced to ten after Ayed’s sending off at the end of the first half, Al Shabab struggled — first to keep possession and then to attempt constructive play that they are so used to.
RESULT
Al Shabab v Al Jazira 3-7
