Thu, 28 Oct, 2021
Dubai: Of all the teams set to compete at January’s AFC Asian Cup, the United Arab Emirates enjoyed one of the most successful qualifying campaigns.
Their run to the tournament in Australia began with a Group E trip to Hanoi on February 6, 2013 where they faced a Vietnam side eager to prove themselves against their much fancied opponents.
The visitors took the lead in the sixth minute through an Ahmed Khalil penalty. They maintained their advantage until just after half-time when Vietnam struck back to level matters. However, the UAE were not be denied as Habib Fadan netted in the 67th minute to seal a 2-1 victory.
Their second match came against fellow group favourites Uzbekistan (pictured). Playing in front of a passionate home crowd in Abu Dhabi, the UAE went behind early on, but duly began to find their rhythm in the second half as goals from Khalil and Ali Mabkhout secured a vital win for the hosts.
The UAE then travelled to Hong Kong where a hat-trick from star striker Mabkhout and a late goal from Walid Abbas secured a 4-0 win for the West Asians.
Mahdi Ali’s men faced Hong Kong again a month later in Abu Dhabi where they produced a polished display and beat the visitors by the same emphatic 4-0 scoreline they had recorded in Hong Kong. First-half goals by Salem Saleh (21’) and Walid Abbas (40’) prepared the platform for the home side, before Omar Abdulrahman (80’) and Ismail Al Hammadi (88’) secured the win.
The match against Vietnam saw the UAE record their biggest win of their qualifying campaign – a resounding 5-0 victory in front of almost 10,000 fans in Abu Dhabi. Walid Abbas opened the UAE account in the 19th minute before Ismail Matar struck in the 25th minute to claim their second.
Goals from Mabkhout and Habib Fardan just before half-time put the home side in a commanding 4-0 lead at the break. Ahmed Khalil duly scored in the 92nd minute to complete the comprehensive win.
The UAE’s final qualifying match came against Uzbekistan in Tashkent. After a tight and goalless first-half, it was striker Ismail Al Hammadi who broke the deadlock in the 67th minute for the UAE. The lead was short-lived however; Uzbekistan finding the back of the net in the 85th minute through Igor Sergeev to ensure a share of the spoils.
Despite that draw in their final match, the Emiratis streaked away to finish top of Group E and undefeated in all six matches and five points clear of second-placed Uzbekistan. The UAE, who finished third at the recently concluded Gulf Cup of Nations, will be hoping they can carry the form they displayed during the qualifiers into the Asian Cup come January and their campaign opener against Group C rivals Qatar on January 11 in Canberra.