Al Jazira have been crowned 2020-2021 Arabian Gulf League champions after beating Khorfakkan 3-1 at Mohammed bin Zayed Stadium in the final matchweek on Tuesday.
Oumar Traoré struck twice and Ali Mabkhout got on the scoresheet too as the Pride of Abu Dhabi claimed a decisive win to earn their third league title and their first since the 2016-17 season. They finished off the season with 57 points, three clear of second-placed Bani Yas who were held to a 1-1 draw by Al Wahda.
Marcel Keizer’s men started off the stronger of the two sides and breached Khorfakkan’s defence after just two minutes when Milos Kosanovic's header was tipped over the bar by the guests’ keeper. Ali Mabkhout went close four minutes later, but his close-range volley sailed over the target.
Al Jazira’s pressure paid off when they grabbed the lead with just 10 minutes on the clock, as Mabkhout’s defense-splitting pass found Traore who finished into the top right corner.
Mabkhout exchanged the ball with goalscorer Traore and the latter’s strike was saved by the keeper. The rebound then fell to the league's top goalscorer who fired home to double Al Jazira’s lead just before the half-hour mark.
Al Jazira were forced to continue the game with 10 men after a VAR review overturned Khalfan Mubarak's booking to a red card nine minutes ahead of halftime.
Making light of their numerical disadvantage, the hosts displayed excellent character and grabbed a third goal on 56 minutes. A fine interception from Thulani Serero saw him feed the ball to Mabkhout on halfway who laced a pass to Traore, as the latter fired home to all but seal the league title.
Khorfakkan piled on pressure in the final stages of the game but were denied by keeper Ali Khaseif. They eventually pulled one back in injury time through a brilliant individual effort from Khalfan Al Noobi.
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