Katanec not rushing selection process

"I am pleased with what I saw in this match. We played well, especially in the first half and I liked to see the determination and organisation of our players," Katanec told media after the UAE had cruised to a comfortable 3-1 win.

The UAE opened the scoring through Mohammad Shehi (35th minute) and then added a second through Ahmad Khamis (56th) before two penalties to either side saw the home side ending with a 3-1 result and hand Katanec his first win in his new assignment as national team coach.

The friendly played at the Al Shabab Club late on Wednesday was the UAE's second friendly in a week following their 1-1 draw against Palestine on October 10. The matches were the first for Katanec after he took over from Frenchman Dominique Bathenay at the start of this season following the country's failure to make it to the 2010 Fifa World Cup in South Africa.

Katanec's first challenge will come on January 6 next year when they host Malaysia in their Group C qualifier of the 2011 Asian Cup to be hosted by neighbours Qatar. The UAE are at the top of the three-team group with three points after two games. The UAE pounded Malaysia 5-0 in Kuala Lumpur but fell by a solitary goal to Uzbekistan in Sharjah.

The UAE Football Association (UAEFA) has lined up another three friendlies for Katanec's wards, with their first coming up against Manchester City in the UAE capital on November 12. The next two games will be part of an international tournament in Abu Dhabi the following week with Iraq, Azerbaijan and Belgium the most likely participants.

"These three games will make things clearer to me. Today was a nice test for my players and for me too to have a closer look at what they are capable of. I am no superman to decide on my team after just a couple of training sessions and two friendly matches. I think I will have a better impression after the next three friendly matches," Katanec said.

For the time being, the Slovenian coach was pleased to pick up the positives after his side's two games against Palestine and Jordan.

"My players were serious today, something that was missing in them when they played Palestine. I want the two aspects of organisation and the will to fight to stay with them in each game," Katanec stated.

Jordan

Rueing missed chances

Jordan's Iraqi coach Adnan Hamad was left rueing his team's missed chances following their 3-1 loss to the UAE in a friendly late on Wednesday.

"They had four chances and they scored three, and all this was because of the mistakes we made in the defence," Hamad rued.

Like the UAE, the Jordanians are preparing for their Group E qualifiers of the 2011 Asian Cup. They next play Iran at the Azadi Stadium on November 14 before hosting the Iranians in Amman on November 22.

Their last two matches will be against Thailand and Singapore at home. After two matches, Jordan is at the bottom of the four-team group with just one point, courtesy a goalless draw at home against Thailand in January this year.

"I am not pleased with the result tonight, but we can walk away with some positives to look forward to. We had to test our players and I think they did a great job in adjusting," Hamad admitted. "We have four games left and just one point with us. This is surely going to be a tough assignment ahead. But we are ready to fight till the end."