ABU DHABI // Al Jazira hit the woodwork twice and Al Shabab were denied once as their Arabian Gulf League game ended in a goalless draw at the Mohammed bin Zayed stadium.
Jazira left-back Sultan Al Suwaidi’s cross from the left flank hit the far post and a blast from second-half substitute Jefferson Farfan ricocheted off the crossbar, both in the second half.
In the first half, Shabab were unlucky when Uzbek midfielder Azizbek Haydarov’s effort from just outside the penalty area from a ball that landed at his feet bounced off the bar. Jazira coach Abel Braga was not happy with the result, but he said a draw was better than a defeat.
“It was a difficult match, but we still created scoring opportunities although we couldn’t score,” the Brazilian said.
“Caio Junior (the Shabab coach) used a clever tactic by playing (Henrique) Luvannor and Jo on the two sides. We had a good first half, but Shabab gradually matched us in the second period.
“We also tried a new defence. This combination impressed me during the training and they did a good job on the night because they didn’t concede any goals. We were not lucky to score,” he added.
Caio Junior said the scoreline did not tell the actual story.
“It should have been a 2-2 score instead,” he said. “We have played eight games, both in the league and cup, and we haven’t lost so far. I think every game needs a strategy. So we are quite satisfied to return with an away point.
“Our plan tonight was to hold them (Jazira) in the first half and go for the counter-attack.
“But time to time we changed according to the situations on the pitch in the second half, and both times we created a few chances.
“We couldn’t score, but that’s a different matter.”
Jazira could have taken the lead from the counter-attack that followed Haydarov’s missed opportunity. Brazilian forward Thiago Neves ran down the pitch, drew forward goalkeeper Salem Abdulla and unleashed a low shot only to see it go wide of the right post.
Peru international Farfan, who came in for Sultan Bargash in the second half, was also unlucky when he blew a Mirko Vucinic assist by hitting the post 11 minutes from time.
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