Al Jazira claimed a decisive 2-0 victory over Sharjah at Sharjah Stadium during the second matchweek of the Pro League. The result was largely defined by the clinical performance of Vinicius Mello, who netted both goals to secure three points for the visitors.
Mello broke the deadlock in the second minute of first-half stoppage time, converting a precise delivery from Felicio Mendes. Before this breakthrough, both sides had traded opportunities; Mello narrowly missed an overhead kick in the 17th minute, while Marcus Vinicius saw his header sail over the crossbar in the 29th minute. Sharjah’s Laba Kodjo attempted to level the score in the 38th minute, but his effort was successfully gathered by goalkeeper Ersin Eestanoglu.
Following the interval, Al Jazira maintained their intensity. Mello doubled the lead in the 63rd minute after linking up with Mendes to finish his brace. Despite Sharjah’s late pressure—including a 75th-minute header from Cheickna Doumbia and a dangerous attempt by Kodjo that required a goal-line clearance from Willian Rocha—Al Jazira held firm to maintain their clean sheet and secure the win.
In other league developments, the draw for the 2026-27 Gulf Champions League has been finalized, with 12 clubs set to participate in the expanded third edition of the tournament. Al Nasr and Ajman will represent the Pro League in separate groups.
Ajman has been placed in Group C alongside Al Ettifaq from Saudi Arabia, Iraq’s Erbil, and Kuwait’s Kazma. Al Nasr will compete in Group B against Qatar SC, Al Zawraa of Iraq, and Bahrain’s Al Riffa. Group A features NEOM, Al Duhail, Al Shabab, and Shaab Hadramout.
The tournament structure has grown from eight to 12 teams, with the group stage scheduled to run from October 13, 2026, to February 17, 2027. The top two teams from each group, along with the two best third-placed finishers, will advance to the quarter-finals. The competition is slated to conclude with a final in late April 2027.
Earlier in the week, United achieved a historic milestone by securing their first-ever ADNOC Pro League victory, defeating Bani Yas 3-2. This win marked United’s first points of their debut season, while Bani Yas remains winless after two matches.
Willy Semedo opened the scoring for United from the penalty spot in the third minute. M. Name extended the lead in the 57th minute, helping the side hold off their opponents to claim the landmark result. The report also notes that finishing a precise cross from Felicio Mendes, al Jazira went into the break with a 1-0 lead after Mello opened the scoring in the second minute of first-half stoppage time. The report also notes that mello combined brilliantly with Mendes before finding the net to complete his brace and put the visitors firmly in control. The report also notes that with Cheickna Doumbia heading wide in the 75th minute, sharjah pushed forward in search of a response. The report also notes that al Jazira remained composed in the closing stages and held on to secure an important 2-0 victory.
