Hamburg are champions

Dubai: Hamburg SV clinched the Dubai Football Challenge Cup 2007 after defeating UAE 1-0 at the Al Maktoum Stadium last night. Collin Benjamin scored the all-important goal in the 38th minute with a powerful header following a flag kick.

The Germans kept their narrow lead until the final whistle with good defending, although the UAE launched several attacks in the second half to score the equaliser.

UAE coach Bruno Metsu fielded a different line-up to the team that beat Vfb Stuttgart on Monday in order to give all players some match-practice before the Gulf Cup kicks-off next Wednesday.

The UAE's last warm-up match will be against Iran on Friday in Abu Dhabi.

In the first match played earlier yesterday, Iran beat Stuttgart by a solitary goal scored by Mehdi Rajabzadeh, four minutes after the break.

The win gave Iran second place with five points (the tournaments rules give three points for win, one for a draw and one point for each goal scored).

Iran have five points from one win and two goals. They were equal with UAE with five points each, but Iran finished second because their goal was scored quicker than UAE, who finished third. Stuttgart were fourth with one point.

Shaikh Mohammad Bin Maktoum Al Maktoum, the Al Nasr Club football committee chairman, Ebrahim Abdul Malek, Secertary General of GAYSW, FA President Yousuf Al Sarkal , Dubai Sports Coiuncil deputy president Mattar Al Tayer attended the match and presented the trophy and medals to the winners.

The Iran-Stuttgart match looked set to be cancelled in the 31st minute when the referee, Jasim Al Doukhy ordered Iranian coach Amir Ghalenoi to leave the reserves bench. The coach refused to leave the bench and referee stopped the match and insisted that Ghalenoi leave the field.

The match stopped for seven minutes before Ghalenoi decided to obey the referee's decision and play resumed. But the referee added just two minutes as stoppage time.

"The tournament is a very successful one except for one thing, very bad refereeing," said an angry Ghalenoi.

"I spoke with my captain near the touch line, and suddenly I found the referee asking me to leave the bench without any reason."

He said in the match they lost to Hamburg, they were not awarded a clear penalty kick and in yesterday's match, the referee was not fair in many decisions.

The Iranian coach played without five players who played against Hamburg on Monday. While Stuttgart coach played with his senior team, he said that after the winter break in Germany, his players could not give 100% yesterday.

"The Iranians played well and deserved to win. I think it's a good preparation for the Bundesliga which resumes at the end of January. Playing against Iran is a good chance to have good preparation."