Doha: The UAE came up with a brilliant display against World Cup 2010 qualifiers North Korea, but fell short of a victory and shared two points in their opening match of Group D at the Qatar Sports Club stadium here Tuesday.
After North Korea missed a sixth-minute penalty, Srecko Katanec's men did the Gulf countries proud with a draw, though they fully deserved a win.
The UAE's campaign in the Asian Cup began on the wrong note as they conceded a penalty in the very sixth minute. Hamadan Al Kamali's challenge on Jong Tae Se was illegal according to Malaysian referee Subkhiddin Salleh and the large UAE contingent of fans went silent as North Korea's number 10 and skipper Hong Yong-ho stepped up to take the penalty.
But Hong struck the cross bar and Waleed Abbas headed the rebound to safety and UAE were left off the hook. Though they took some time to recover from that escape, once they did it was UAE all the way in the first session.
In the 18th minute a Ahmad Khalil shot was punched away by Korean keeper Ri Myong-guk and the rebound went to Esmail Al Hammadi who dispatched it first time but the ball hit Guk's legs and danger was averted.
Four minutes later Al Hammadi crossed and Khalil took a shot on the turn but Ri dived and saved. A minute later, the UAE's star striker Esmail Matar came into the picture but was unlucky when his volley off a rebound was saved by an advancing Ri. The UAE siege continued and in the 25th minute Hamdan Al Kamali almost atoned for yielding that penalty but his header off a Subait Khater free-kick flew over the bar with Ri well beaten.
In the 31st minute, Matar showed why he is one of the most feared strikers in the region when airborne, he unleashed a brilliant volley, but the effort narrowly sailed over the bar.
Great opportunity
And after Ali Al Waheebi failed to control a nice forward pass, the UAE missed another great opportunity during injury time of the first half.
A free-kick by Khater was headed into the box by Waleed Abbas and Yousuf Jaber, who scored against the same rivals in a friendly in 2007, volleyed just over the bar.
In the second half, Esmail Matar, who was later named best player, unleashed a brilliant shot from about 40 yards but it just missed the mark as the UAE continued to dominate their fancied rivals.
In the final minutes, Al Hammadi found Ri saving his shot from the left while substitute Saeed Al Kathiri found his header off Khater again being saved by the North Korean custodian.
