UAE shattered by own-goal in injury time

Doha: An own-goal in injury time shattered the UAE as Iraq grabbed full points to take second place behind Iran in Group D of the Asian Cup football championship here Saturday.

With the game heading for a goalless draw, the teams were playing out the six minutes of injury time when Younus Mahmoud’s shot was diverted by UAE defender Walid Abbas into his own goal.

Earlier, the UAE came close to scoring at least twice. But defender Hamdan Al Kamali’s header struck the post and Subait Khater’s free-kick was saved by Iraqi keeper Mohammad Qasid.

Iraq ran the UAE close with Nashat Akram forcing a save from UAE keeper Majed Nasser. Akram was again in the thick of action, skimming the cross bar with the resultant flagkick.

Goal posts denied Iraq’s Qusay Muneer and the UAE’s Esmail Al Hammadi in the second half before the own-goal did UAE in.