Al Jazira require “a miracle” to seize the Arabian Gulf League title after a devastating derby defeat to neighbours Al Wahda, according to crestfallen coach Eric Gerets.
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Much more than Abu Dhabi pride was relinquished by Al Jazira last night, their championship dreams left in tatters following a miserable night at Al Nahyan Stadium.
Gerets flitted between touchline and dugout, a serial winner watching the submissive concession of a seven-point advantage to long-term leaders Al Ain with alarm. Four games – and an almost-impossible task – remain.
“Wahda deserved to win the game,” the former Belgium defender said. “We were searching for our game for too long.
“It is logic that we missed a big possibility to make a difference. That is life – we will have to fight for second place now, for sure. To win the title in my opinion, we need a miracle.”
Star attacking trio Jonathan Pitroipa, Mirko Vucinic and Ali Mabkhout were absent without leave. The continuing absence of UAE anchor man Khamis Esmail to injury sorely felt.
Even the lifeline presented by an awful late penalty from Hamdan Al Kamali failed to spark a revival.
Bragging rights imbued Wahda with a collective spirit glaring in its absence since former coach Jose Peseiro inexplicable February axing.
Stumbling successor Sami Al Jaber had overseen an AFC Champions League exit to Al Sadd and three AGL defeats from five previous matches. Last week’s reversal to Fujairah had been gutless, a world away from what was to unfold at Al Nahyan Stadium.
They can now believe they have enough to hold off the baying Al Wasl hordes in the battle to remain in the Asian-qualification spots.
The goal when it came on 17 minutes was deserved. One of the most fruitful partnerships in the Middle East served it up, Argentine playmaker Damian Diaz’s bouncing corner being nodded in by lethal compatriot Sebastian Tagliabue for his 12th strike of the season.
Saudi Arabia legend Al Jaber’s midfield was packed with young talents full of brio such as 19-year-old Mohammad Al Abdulla, all scrapping for possession and looking to spring on the counter-attack when Jazira relinquished their hold on the ball.
The Pride of Abu Dhabi’s superior players kept getting them in promising positions. Yet with Esmail watching from the stands, they lacked direction and control.
Gerets’ men created chances. As the division’s joint-top scorers they always do.
Brazil midfielder Jucilei shot straight at the solid Adel Al Hosani then fizzed the rebound across goal, Argentine creator Manuel Lanzini sending a flamboyant overhead kick from the edge of the box narrowly over.
But they were unable to generate the kind of insufferable pressure produced at their finest on a sticky evening in the capital.
The second half brought glaring misses at both ends from Tagliabue and Mabkhout, one outstanding save being registered when returning UAE No1 Ali Khaseif acrobatically tipped over Diaz’s free-kick straight after the interval.
The race appeared truly run when the criminally-unmarked Amer Omar was felled by Khaseif in the area on 83 minutes from a dinked Ismail Matar free-kick.
Al Kamali offered hope, rashly ballooning over. This was not taken, Jazira sleepwalking to the final whistle and out of the fight for domestic glory.