UAE settle for goalless draw

Muscat: Reigning champions, the UAE settled for a goalless tie with Qatar and increased their tally to four points from two matches in Group B renewing their hopes to reach the semi-finals as they need only one single point from their last match in the first round against Saudi Arabia on Sunday.

Qatar, led by the UAE former coach Bruno Metsu, played their second tie in a row without scoring a single goal in two matches and increased their tally to two points, their last match will be against Yemen.

The UAE started with the same line-up that finished their first match against Yemen with Majed Nasir in goal. Hayder Allo Ali, Mohammad Qasim, Hamdan Al Kamali and Mohammad Fayez in defence.

Abdul Salam Jumaa, his younger brother Abdul Rahim, Mohammad Al Shehhi and Esmail Al Hammadi in midfield while Esmail Mattar and Mohammad Omar led the attack.

Qatar faced a setback in the first five minutes when their captain and central defender Abdulla Koni committed a foul against Mattar but Koni suffered a head injury and was replaced by Markoni Amiral Costa.

The UAE almost dominated the first half following a superb performance from the midfielders and defenders who closed all in roads to their goal and kept their opponents at bay while Mattar, Al Shehhi, Al Hammadi and Omar created a constant headache for the Qatari defenders with fast moves on the flanks and from the depth.

But the UAE efforts failed to bear fruit in the first half because of lack on concentration while Qatar defenders made some brilliant last minute tackles to keep their net clean.

Al Shehhi, Al Hammadi, Omar and Hayder have all tried their luck with fierce shots towards their opponent's goal but most of their attempts were turned to corner kicks by the defenders or Mohammad Saqr, the Qatari custodian.

Qatar resumed play after the breather with pressing attacks and a clear intention to score a goal but the UAE defenders and their custodian Majed Nasir blocked all their attempts and kept them busy with counter attacking moves led by Mattar and Al Shehhi.

Nasir made a spectacular save in the 48th minute to block the fierce shot from Hussain Yasir.

After the first 15 minutes of the second half, the UAE came back strong to the match and exchanged attacks with the Qataris with their head coach Dominique Bathenay strengthening his attacking force by bringing in Ali Al Waheebi and Ahmad Dada to replace Omar and Al Hammadi who were exhausted from their efforts.

Dada almost scored a last minute goal from Mattar's cross but his header was saved by Saqr, the Qatari custodian.

"It was a fair result."Omar said after the match. " Both teams played a good match and exchanged control equally."

Adil Lami of Qatar agreed " It is fair to split the point no team have the edge over the second."