UAE fail to reach knockout stage

Dubai: The UAE have failed to make the knockout stage of the third West Asian Football Federation Under-15 Championships after failing to get past the group stages of the event in Amman, Jordan.

Drawn in a tough Group B alongside Kuwait and Iran, the Emiratis beat Gulf rivals Kuwait 2-1 in their opening match at the King Abdullah Stadium, but lost by a solitary goal to Iran in their second match.

The UAE finished second in the group, after Kuwait were thrashed 3-1 by 2005 champions Iran, who qualified as leaders in Group B.

Defending champions Syria, who finished second in Group A, however, made it to the knockout stages of the nine-team competition, riding into the semifinals on the back of a superior goal difference.

Iraq, who beat Syria 3-1 and Yemen 6-0, qualified from the summit of Group A, while Jordan topped Group C, following a 2-1 victory and 1-1 draw against Bahrain and Palestine respectively.

Bahrain beat Palestine 3-1 in the other Group C match.

Iraq took on neighbours and archrivals Iran, while hosts Jordan played Syria in the semifinals of the tournament late last night.