Al-Wasl and Al-Jazira have finally found their footing in the UAE Pro League, each clinching their first victory of the season on Thursday, 29 August 2024, in the second round of matches. After a sluggish start, both teams managed to secure crucial wins that offer a much-needed boost early in the campaign.
Al-Jazira rebounded from their disappointing opening defeat to Bani Yas with a convincing 2-0 win over Al-Urooba at the Mohammed bin Zayed Stadium.
The victory marked a significant turnaround, as Mohamed Elneny and his teammates demonstrated their dominance over an opponent they have now defeated three times in recent years.
The breakthrough came just before halftime, when Mohammed Rabii powered a header into the net from a well-delivered Mohamed Elneny corner in the 45th minute.
Al-Jazira capitalized on their lead with a second goal in stoppage time.
A swift counterattack resulted in a penalty, expertly converted by Congolese midfielder Neeskens Kebano in the 96th minute, sealing the win and sending Al-Urooba to the bottom of the standings.
With this result, Al-Jazira finds itself in eighth place, while Al-Urooba remains without points and sits at the bottom of the table, struggling to find form in the early stages of the season.
Meanwhile, reigning champions Al-Wasl also recorded their first win of the season, narrowly defeating Dibba Al-Hisn SC 1-0.
The Emperor, who had drawn their opening match against Al-Ittihad Kalba (2-2), managed to collect three points, thanks to an early strike from Caio Canedo Corrêa.
The forward scored the only goal of the match in the ninth minute, finishing off an assist from Ali Saleh.
Though Al-Wasl dominated the early stages, they struggled to create further clear-cut chances throughout the game.
Their goalkeeper, Khaled Al-Senaani, was the hero of the match, making a series of crucial saves to preserve the slim lead.
His efforts ensured that Al-Wasl kept their clean sheet and moved temporarily to the top of the standings.
On the other side, Dibba Al-Hisn, still without points after two games, finds itself at the bottom of the league.
The team has struggled to find offensive rhythm and will need to regroup quickly if they are to avoid being left behind in the early stages of the season.
For both Al-Wasl and Al-Jazira, these victories mark a significant step forward in their pursuit of success in the 2024-25 UAE Pro League season.
While Al-Wasl looks to defend their title, Al-Jazira will be hoping to build on this momentum as they climb up the table.
