Asian Cup Group C: UAE launch campaign with a flourish against Qatar

Canberra: UAE made a dream start to their Asian Cup campaign with a thumping 4-1 comeback win over Qatar in Canberra on Sunday.

Two goals apiece from Ahmad Khalil and Ali Mabkhout cancelled out Khalfan Ebrahim’s first-half strike as UAE came from a goal down to dominate the match and send out an early warning to the other teams in Group C.

Indeed, aside from Ebrahim’s goal and a few nervous moments at the back, the match couldn’t have gone any better for Mahdi Ali’s side who ensured Gulf Cup champions Qatar tasted their first defeat in a year with a scintillating performance.

Ali insisted that the time was now right for his players to succeed after almost a decade of working with them. “I have been with this group a long time, maybe around nine years,” Ali said.

“More than 16 of them have worked with me since 2004 when I was an assistant coach and then since 2008 as head coach.

“We’ve grown together, we help each other a lot, we know each other, we understand each other and this is what I need to do my job.”

Looking razor sharp on the break and with star man Omar Abdul Rahman showing all the skill and precision he is capable of, UAE were far too strong for a beleaguered Qatar from the outset.

Mabkhout was the first to sight goal, lashing into the side-netting after just nine minutes, while Mohammad Abdul Rahman should have done better than strike over when well-placed moments later.

But it was Qatar who opened the scoring - against the run of play - when Ebrahim beautifully lobbed over goalkeeper Majed Naser from the edge of the penalty area after Mohammed Tresor’s initial shot had been blocked on 22 minutes.

Importantly for UAE, the goal didn’t change the nature of match, with the momentum still running in their favour.

Qatar keeper Qasem Burhan made an excellent save to keep out a Khalil header, while Omar also went close with a snap-shot.

And it was only a matter of time before the equaliser came as Burhan made a mess of a high ball on 37 minutes, punching straight to Abdulaziz Sanquor whose cross was turned in by Khalil at the back post.

Khalil could have put UAE in front just seconds before half-time when put through by a delightful Omar pass, but his shot flashed wide of the far post.

Even so, the Al Ahli forward didn’t have to wait long to add to his tally thanks to a dipping 52nd minute free-kick which evaded everybody – including Burhan - and nestled in the back of the net.

Mabkhout was on hand to add UAE’s third from close range four minutes later after an increasingly hapless Burhan had spilled a long range free-kick, while Mohammad Abdul Rahman went close to making it 4-1 as the Whites poured forward in numbers.

After further chances for Omar and Mabkhout had gone begging as UAE refused to let up, the pressure paid off in the 89th minute when the same two players exchanged passes before Mabkhout slotted home.

It was an apt finish to a fine opening win for the UAE who will be eager to keep up the early momentum with a similar performance against Bahrain on Thursday.

- The author is a freelance journalist based in Australia.