Al Jazira's AFC run comes to a halt

The fairytale run of Al Jazira in the AFC Champions League finally came to an end late on Tuesday when they lost a penalty shootout to Saudi Arabian side Al Ahli. Al Jazira, last season's Etisalat Pro League runners-up, have exceeded expectations in the continental competition. The Abu Dhabi club won qualifying Group A with five victories and one draw to earn a round of 16 home tie against Al Ahli, the runners up in Group C. A double by Ricardo Oliveira and another strike by Matias Delgado of Al Jazira were neutralised by goals from Marcelo Camacho, Emad Al Housani and Victor Simoes — setting up the dramatic shootout at the Mohammad Bin Zayed Stadium. The two teams produced an electrifying performance to end regular time 2-2, before adding one goal each in extra time and then resorting to the penalty shootout, which disappointed the home team as they lost 4-2.Oliveira, whose two goals in the match increased his tally to 12 in seven matches in the Champions League, failed to convert from the spot, as did Australian defender Lucas Neill. The match produced an all-too-familiar story about Al Jazira this season. Poor defending, in addition to lapses in concentration by the midfielders, allowed the opponents to take complete command of the match, although only after the hosts had dominated the first 10 minutes and Bare squandered two sitters. "We knew about Al Jazira, especially their defensive mistakes, and took advantage of it," Karel Jarolim, the Al Ahli coach, said after the match. "We came after watching many of their matches and made our plans accordingly, but the fact is that both teams played a thrilling match."