Asian Games: UAE move a step closer to a football medal

Incheon, South Korea: UAE coach Ali Ebrahim was a happy man after his side cleared another hurdle in the men’s football competition at the 2014 Asian Games here on Friday.

Ebrahim watched in apprehension as ten-man UAE soaked up gutsy Vietnam’s pressure before securing a deserved 3-1 win to book their place in the quarter-finals, where they will meet North Korea on Sunday at 2pm (9am UAE).

Silver medallists at the last Asian Games in Guangzhou, the UAE rode on a first-half strike from skipper Saeed Al Kathiri, before Saif Al Maqbali doubled their lead in the second half.

But UAE were reduced to ten men in the 62nd minute, when Mohammad Al Yassi was red-carded when he foolishly head-butted an opponent after a foul near the half-way line.

Vietnam, who are coached by Japanese Toshiya Miura, then pulled one back three minutes from time, when Abdullah Al Naqbi failed to clear Nguyen Huy Hung fired past Ahmad Al Shambieh. But Bandar Al Hababi got a third in injury-time to ensure UAE progressed.

“I have always maintained that we want to take one match at a time. Now that we have finished with the round of 16, we will start planning for the next one,” Ebrahim told Gulf News.

“We have a system of play and all my players have stuck to the game-plan so far. I expect the same against North Korea on Sunday.”

Of the sending off, Ebrahim added: “Things did get uncomfortable for us after that red card, but I must compliment my players for keeping their calm till the end for a well-deserved win.”

The match started off at a fast pace, with the UAE getting a look at the Vietnam goal as Hussain Hassan went down the right in the first minute and shot on target, only for goalkeeper Tran Buu Ngoc to make a smart save.

At the other end, Mac Hong Quan ran through the heart of the UAE defence and ballooned over with just Al Shambiah to beat. Vietnam had more opportunities in the sixth and 11th minutes, but Nguyen Buu Ngoc was unlucky to see his efforts sail over.

Al Kathiri scored his fourth goal of the tournament in the 21st minute, when the the Al Wasl striker latched on a through ball from Hussain Walid and blasted home a low shot.

Urged on by their fans, Vietnam responded well, but a combination of good defending and hasty finishing ensured they couldn’t find a way through.

After a string of attacks early in the second half, UAE scored again when Al Maqbali headed in a cross from the right by Bandar Al Hababi.

Coach Ebrahim had to alter his plans after Al Yassi’s moment of madness and his side did well to keep Vietnam at bay until the closing minutes.

Even after conceding, the UAE made it 3-1 when Al Hababi broke the offside trap, rounded the Vietnam keeper and chipped into an empty goal.

In the day’s other round of 16 matches, Iraq eased past Tajikistan 4-2, North Korea beat Indonesia 4-1 and Saudi Arabia edged Uzbekistan 3-2.