Panza Scores Opener as Jazira Joins Title Race

Simon Banza scored his first goal for Al Jazira, leading the Abu Dhabi club to a 1-0 victory over Al-Bataeh in the UAE Pro League. The win moves Al Jazira up to fifth place with 13 points, putting them back in the title race after what had been a slow start to the season.

The Congolese striker made his mark in his 27th minute debut goal, justifying Al Jazira's hefty investment in him. The club paid Sporting Braga €9 million for his services during the summer transfer window, making it their most expensive signing of the season according to Portuguese newspaper Record.

Al Jazira controlled the midfield from the start but struggled to convert their chances early on. Al-Bataeh goalkeeper Abdulrahman Al-Ameri pulled off three crucial saves in the opening 20 minutes, denying headers from Banza and shots from Ibrahim Adel and Richard O'Connor.

The breakthrough came when Abdullah Ramadan played a perfectly weighted pass behind the defense. Banza latched onto it and calmly slotted the ball past Al-Ameri to give his new team the lead.

Al-Bataeh improved after going behind but couldn't create clear chances against Ali Khaseif in the Al Jazira goal. The visitors came closest to an equalizer in the second half when Marwan Fahd thought he had scored, but the referee ruled it out for a foul on Al Jazira defender William Rocha.

This marks Al Jazira's third consecutive league win, a run that has transformed their season. They now sit just seven points behind the league leaders with plenty of games remaining. For Al-Bataeh, the loss leaves them in 12th place with just three points from seven matches.

The result shows how one quality signing can change a team's fortunes. Banza's arrival has given Al Jazira the cutting edge they were missing in attack, and his debut goal suggests there's more to come from the former Braga striker.