UAE keep hopes alive for knockout stage
This win kept the UAE in with a chance to qualify
Dubai: The UAE kept alive their hopes for the knockout stage of the 2009 Fifa Beach Soccer World Cup with a crushing 7-1 win against the Solomon Islands at the Umm Suqueim Beach in Jumeirah last night.
This win kept the UAE in with a chance to qualify following Uruguay's shock 2-1 win over fancied Portugal to throw Group A wide open. Wednesday's final round matches with the UAE taking on Uruguay and Portgual facing the Solomon Islands will decide the best two to advance to the next stage.
Karim Al Baloushi gave the UAE the lead with just 11 seconds gone, but goalkeeper Fred Hale's shot caught Abbas Hussain napping for the equaliser. But Al Baloushi got his second to give the home side the lead again.
Gem of a goal
From then on, it was the home team as Ebrahim Al Baloushi toed in a third early in the second period as Solomon Islands lost their charismatic captain James Naka to injury. The UAE skipper Bakhit Sa'ad came up with a gem of a goal when he connected a thundering volley to put his team up 4-1.
In the third period, the UAE struck thrice through Rami Al Mesaabi, Qambar Sadeqi and Adil Ranjbar to finish a satisfying match.
Earlier, Russia became the third team to book their place in the knockout stages after Japan and Switzerland following a hard-fought 3-1 win against Italy in Group C.
