Youth team go down despite brave effort

Dubai: The UAE youth under-19 football team lost 2-1 against Egypt in a friendly match held in Cairo last Saturday.

The match was the first step in preparing the team for the Asian youth cup finals which will be held in Saudi Arabia in November.

Egypt led 1-0 in the first half, their goal scored by Sayed Hassan in the 30th minute.

The UAE stormed back in the second half and Ahmad Ali levelled for the visitors. The UAE youth did well under coach Juma Rabea and missed some good chances. Hisham Mohammad scored the winner for the home team 15 minutes from the end.

Rabea Yasin, the Egypt youth team coach, praised the standard of the UAE.

"Its a good chance for our youth players to play against a well organised team like UAE to gain experience."