Spirited UAE denied win by Iran

Dubai: UAE coach Dominique Bathenay was left frustrated after watching his side's Fifa World Cup hopes suffer yet another setback when they were held to a 1-1 draw by Iran at the Al Maktoum Stadium last night.

A young UAE side appeared to be heading to what would have been a stunning 1-0 victory over their more experienced rivals before Iranian skipper Kaim Bhageri cancelled out Abdul Rahim Juma's early strike just 11 minutes before the final whistle.

The draw left UAE with one point at the bottom of Group B that also includes Saudi Arabia and North and South Koreas, and needing a miracle to qualify for the 2010 Cup finals in South Africa.

The UAE must now win all four remaining matches to retain a mathamatical chance of progressing to Fifa's showpiece event.

Bathenay praised the spirit of his young team but was still left rueing missed chances by Esmail Mattar, Esmail Hammadi and Under-19 star Ahmad Khalil.

"Iran are a very strong team but our boys played a really big game," said the Frenchman.

"We were not lucky as we lost several scoring chances. I am sad for my players because they did their best, but it still was not good enough. We have a very slim mathamatecial chance to qualify if we win all four remaining games, but we will also need a lot of luck."

Mattar, the UAE's mercurial striker who was a thorn in the Iranian defence, left the ground with tears in his eyes, fearing all had been lost at the Al Maktoum Stadium last night.

The UAE appeared full of resolve as they took on the mighty Iranians and even dominated the first half. Abdul Rahim scored in the 20th minute following a brilliant move with Mattar when he deceived the rival defenders before slotting the ball past goalkeeper Sayed Mehdi Rahmati.

Nawas Mubarak could have put the UAE 2-0 up in the 32nd minute but his 40-yard freekick was narrowly saved by a diving Rahmati.

Iran pressed hard after the break but UAE defenders Mohammad Qasim, Faris Jumaa and Haider Alo Ali held them at bay.

But skipper Bhageri was not to be denied in the 79th minute when he leapt high to head the ball into the UAE net following a cross from Masoud Shojaei.

Skipper Jumaa summed up the mood in the UAE team when he said, “It was a match we should have won. It is really disappointing to have played so well and yet settle for just one point.''