DUBAI (Interstat) — Al Jazira and Al Wasl Club Under 23 played to a 2-2 draw on Monday, with the visitors twice taking the lead before the home side equalized late in the second half. The match moved quickly from the opening stages, and both teams found spells of possession in a contest that remained level at the final whistle.

Al Jazira took the lead in the 26th minute when Nikola Vukic scored. Vukic was on the field for the full 90 minutes, and his goal gave the visitors an early advantage. Al Wasl Club Under 23 responded in the 34th minute through Abdulla A., leveling the match and shifting momentum back toward the home side. The first half did not end level, however, as Ali Almemari scored for Al Jazira in the second minute of first-half stoppage time. Almemari also played the entire match, and his goal restored Al Jazira’s lead before the break.

Al Wasl Club Under 23 pressed for another equalizer after halftime and found it in the 83rd minute when De Matos S. scored. The late goal completed the scoring and left both sides with a share of the points. The home team’s pursuit of a winner continued through the final stages, but Al Jazira held its shape and limited clear chances as the match wound down.

The draw added to Al Jazira’s season record in this competition, which now stands at 2 wins, 0 losses and 1 draw. Al Jazira’s record across all competitions is also 2 wins, 0 losses and 1 draw. Al Wasl Club Under 23’s record in this competition is now 0 wins, 1 loss and 2 draws, and its record across all competitions is the same.

Al Jazira entered the match after a scoreless draw with Al Wasl, a 1-0 win at Bani Yas Club Under 23 and a 3-1 home win over Ittihad Kalba U23. Those results had given Al Jazira a steady start to its league campaign, and the draw on Monday kept the club unbeaten in the competition. Al Wasl Club Under 23 came in following a 1-0 loss at Al Dhafra U23 and a scoreless home draw with Bani Yas Club Under 23. The home side remained without a win but added another draw to its account.

The match featured several shifts in momentum. Al Jazira’s first goal came after a period of pressure, and Vukic finished the chance to put the visitors ahead. Al Wasl Club Under 23 answered within eight minutes through Abdulla A., whose goal brought the home side back into the match. Al Jazira regained the lead just before halftime when Almemari scored in stoppage time, a goal that changed the tone of the interval. The home team then pushed for a second equalizer after the break and was rewarded when De Matos S. scored with seven minutes of regulation remaining.

Al Jazira’s defense faced a late test as Al Wasl Club Under 23 searched for a winning goal. The visitors managed the closing minutes without conceding again, and the final whistle confirmed a draw that reflected the balanced nature of the contest. Both teams had stretches of control, and neither side was able to turn its best spell into a decisive advantage.

Al Jazira next faces KhorFakkan S&CC in league play. Al Wasl Club Under 23 will continue its competition schedule after the draw. Al Jazira remains unbeaten in the competition, while Al Wasl Club Under 23 continues to search for its first victory of the season.

Interstat’s game simulator had projected a final score of Al Wasl Club Under 23 1, Al Jazira 1. Interstat’s ELO system had projected Al Wasl Club Under 23 with a 54.6 percent probability to win. The total score of 4 went under the over/under line of 2.5.