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Football: Al Jazira go top for a day in Arabian Gulf League

Dubai - The prospect of going top of the League, albeit briefly, dangled in front of both hosts Al Wasl and Al Jazira and it was the visitors who showed a lot more intent at the Zabeel Stadium

It was but the finishing touches but it had class written all over it. And it perhaps explained just why Al Ahli and Al Ain had made flirting glances before Al Jazira got their man.
Felled just outside the box, Leonardo picked himself and dusted himself off before unfurling a delicious curling freekick past an airborne Al Wasl goalkeeper Yousif Abdulla Al Zaabi.
It was a sheer moment of brilliance from Leonardo, signed from AFC Champions League winners Jeonbuk Hyundai Motors, and his goal meant Al Jazira edged past Al Wasl 3-2 in an ill-tempered Arabian Gulf League fixture.
The prospect of going top of the League, albeit briefly, dangled in front of both hosts Al Wasl and Al Jazira and it was the visitors who showed a lot more intent at the Zabeel Stadium.
Ailton Almeida, Saif Al Meqbali and Leonardo were on target for the Pride of Abu Dhabi, while Ronaldo Mendes and Fabio de Lima scored for The Cheetahs.
Al Jazira's 10th win and fourth on the road means they sit at the top of the table for a day. And a longer stay depends on how Al Ain fare against Bani Yas on Saturday.
Al Jazira were off the mark through Ailton Almeida on 13 minutes with the former Al Hilal forward firing home following a neat through from Ali Ahmed Mabkhout.
Al Wasl responded by making a dangerous foray from the right but Al Jazira's experienced goalkeeper Ali Khaseif pulled off multiple saves.
Al Jazira went on the counter through Ali Mabkhout but the Emirati frontman was dispossessed by Serginho.
Al Wasl didn't let up and went on a full assault but Ali Mabkhout made a clearance just in time following a goal mouth melee after a corner.
But The Cheetahs found a way back in after Serginho was brought down by Musallem Fayez. It was a tight angle but Mendes curled his left-footed freekick just about enough to put it past Ali Khaseif on 27 minutes.
But Al Jazira retook the lead again on 35 minutes with Saif Al Meqbali heading home a Leonardo freeekick.
Al Wasl went in search again for the equaliser but were denied by Ali Khaseif on both occasions. Five minutes after the restart, Khaseif kept out Mendes' effort and then went on to save Khalil Khamis' attempt.
But then, Leonardo conjured that amazing freekick on 54 minutes to give Al Jazira a nice cushion.
Fabio de Lima reduced the deficit with a crisp left-footer, with 10 minutes left to play out but an equaliser proved to be elusive.
Things got a bit heated out there in the middle towards the fag end but better sense prevailed with Al Jazira's veteran defender Fares Juma and Al Wasl's Fabio de Lima getting away with yellow cards.
 
Al Wasl 2
(Goals: Ronaldo Mendes 27, Fabio de Lima 80. Yellow cards: Serginho 37, Abdulrahman Ali 45, Fabio de Lima 87, Ali Hassan Salmin 90)
Al Jazira 3
(Goals: Ailton Almeida 13, Saif Al Meqbali 35, Leonardo 54. Yellow cards: Musallem Fayez 26, Fares Juma 87)