Abu Dhabi: The UAE's defenders were caught napping in the first 15 minutes of their friendly match against China yesterday. They conceded two goals early on and efforts to bounce back in the second half could not help them as they lost the game 2-1, and that too just five days before a crucial tie with South Korea in the 2014 World Cup qualifiers.
The match was the first real test for the team under their new coach, Dr Abdullah Misfir, who made no less than seven changes in the line-up that played Lebanon and lost 3-1 in the team's last match under former coach, Katanec.
Though Misfir gave priority to experienced players, the fact is that most of them have been away from the team in the last two or three years and need more time to perform better as a team.
The Chinese who face Iraq on October 11, started pressing from the word go and scored two early goals when Sun Xiang put them ahead from a free kick just outside the box in the fourth minute and Gao Lin added the second with a beautiful diving header 11 minutes later.
The Chinese continued to do almost everything right contrary to the UAE team who could have easily conceded few more goals.
Misfir made several changes in the second half giving a chance to young blood after which, the team played better and pressed for goals and even found the net in the late 85th minute when substitute Eissa Ahmad headed home a flag kick only three minutes after he was introduced.
Misfir has five days to work on the flaws before facing favourites South Korea on Tuesday in Seoul in a crucial match which the UAE has to win to continue to stay in the running for a place in the next stage of the qualifiers.