Dubai: Ali Mabkhout came off the bench to spare Al Jazira the blushes in a 1-0 win over second tier Ittihad Kalba in the last 16 of the President’s Cup at Dubai Club stadium in Al Awir on Tuesday.

Despite running Real Madrid close before losing 2-1 to Los Blancos in last month’s Fifa Club World Cup, the Arabian Gulf League defending champions took 75 minutes to break down minnow club Kalba.

Mabkhout, who came on for injured Ahmad Fawzi before the hour, finally headed in Musallem Fayez’ cross to nick the victory and book his side into the quarter-finals of the competition, which they last won in 2016.

However, it was very nearly Kalba’s evening. The east coast club, who sit third in the second division and have just hired Brazilian coach Jorvan Vieira, who led Iraq to the 2007 Asian Cup, hit the crossbar from Omar Mansouri’s long shot inside the first quarter.

Mansouri then had a clear call for penalty ignored after being felled in the box by Khalifa Al Hammadi on the half-hour.

Up the other end Al Jazira’s Ahmad Al Attas found himself clear in front of the keeper but shot with his right instead of his left and saw his diagonal effort across goal arch away from the bottom corner.

After the half-hour Kalba’s Mansouri had a close range shot cleared by Faris Juma, and keeper Ali Khaseif tipped Mansouri’s free kick over the crossbar soon after.

Khaseif later passed straight at Mansouri on the edge of the area from a weak clearance but Mansouri was too surprised to make use of the opportunity and shot right back the shot-stopper.

Al Jazira then had a goal ruled offside before the interval after Mbark Boussoufa’s free kick nodded in by Al Attas was helped over the line by an infringing Romarinho.

In the second half Al Attas and Romarinho both headed wide from crosses and corners, while injured Fawzi came off for Mabkhout before the hour.

Fifteen minutes later Mabkhout snatched the winner. Kalba’s only response in the second half came when Mousa Al Baloushi struck over on 73 minutes and Abder Rahim Makran hit wide right at the end.

Al Jazira’s victory follows last week’s 1-1 draw away to Ajman in the league where they sit fifth, and precedes this Saturday’s Super Cup final with Abu Dhabi rivals Al Wahda.