Bert van Marwijk praised his young UAE side after they defeated Syria 2-0 in Dubai to improve their chances of sealing a play-off spot for the 2022 Fifa World Cup.
The national team, third in Group A, made it back-to-back victories in the final round of qualification courtesy of a goal in each half at Al Maktoum Stadium. Caio Canedo struck the first a minute before half-time, then turned provider to tee-up substitute Yahya Al Ghassani in the 70th minute.
The victory keeps the UAE in the group's play-off position with three matches remaining, although they stay eight points off the second automatic berth.
Earlier on Thursday, second-placed South Korea triumphed 1-0 against Lebanon, in fourth, with the latter now four points off the UAE. The UAE next face leaders Iran in Tehran on Tuesday, Asia's top-ranked side booked their place Qatar 2022 with a 1-0 victory on Thursday at home to Iraq.
“First of all, everybody knew how important this game was,” Van Marwijk said afterwards. “And if you want to make a big step you must win, you must get three points. We miss a lot of players, but the new, the young players bring also a lot of new energy to the team, and I think everybody saw that today.
“We didn’t do everything well, but we deserved the victory. They worked unbelievably hard, so again, this is a big step forward.”
The UAE opened the scoring in the 44th minute following fine work by Khalil Ibrahim down his team's left channel. The Al Wahda winger skipped away from his marker, then raced to the byline and cut back the ball. Sensing the opportunity, Canedo raced into the six-yard box and headed past Ibrahim Alma in the Syria goal. It was the Brazil-born forward’s second goal this campaign.
With 20 minutes remaining, Caio helped make safe the result. Latching on to Al Ghassani’s through ball, the Al Ain frontman burst clear before rolling the ball back across to his teammate. Al Ghassani, who had only moments before entered the fray, finished into the empty goal. However, the goal was initially ruled out for offside, only to be overruled by the Video Assistant Referee.
As the coach said, everything today... the attitude was different, the energy, the young boys helped us a lot
Caio Canedo
The win was particularly pleasing for the UAE given the lengthy list of key absentees they encountered coming into the game. The hosts were without all-time leading goalscorer Ali Mabkhout, who is unavailable, and Fabio De Lima, who sustained a serious injury earlier this month while playing for club side Al Wasl.
Meanwhile, defender Shaheen Abdulrahman and playmaker Khalfan Mubarak were out injured, with full-back Bandar Al Ahbabi suspended. Playing as the lone striker in Mabkhout’s absence, Caio was voted man of the match.
“Today was a very important win,” he said. “We knew coming into the game that Lebanon had lost. We have to be realistic; we’re fighting for the third place. As the coach said, everything today … the attitude was different, the energy, the young boys helped us a lot.
“I feel very comfortable playing in this position. It’s the position that I had success with my other team for five years in the UAE.
“But the most important is not the individual performance, it’s the collective, the group. And it’s most important that we took one step towards our dream — three points is very important in that.”
Asked if UAE fans should feel comfortable in the team now clinching third place, Van Marwijk said: “Not comfortable, but a little bit more confident. We have to play three games and if we get three points — so, one victory — then it will be very difficult for other teams to get the third place.
“But it’s not 100 per cent sure, so we start concentrating on the next game.”
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Transmission: 10-speed auto
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Starring: Ajay Devgn, Tabu, Shantanu Maheshwari, Jimmy Shergill, Saiee Manjrekar
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UAE currency: the story behind the money in your pockets
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Started: July 2016
Founders: Mukesh Bansal and Ankit Nagori
Based: Bangalore, India
Sector: Health & wellness
Size: 500 employees
Investment: $250 million
Investors: Accel, Oaktree Capital (US); Chiratae Ventures, Epiq Capital, Innoven Capital, Kalaari Capital, Kotak Mahindra Bank, Piramal Group’s Anand Piramal, Pratithi Investment Trust, Ratan Tata (India); and Unilever Ventures (Unilever’s global venture capital arm)
Milestones on the road to union
1970
October 26: Bahrain withdraws from a proposal to create a federation of nine with the seven Trucial States and Qatar.
December: Ahmed Al Suwaidi visits New York to discuss potential UN membership.
1971
March 1: Alex Douglas Hume, Conservative foreign secretary confirms that Britain will leave the Gulf and “strongly supports” the creation of a Union of Arab Emirates.
July 12: Historic meeting at which Sheikh Zayed and Sheikh Rashid make a binding agreement to create what will become the UAE.
July 18: It is announced that the UAE will be formed from six emirates, with a proposed constitution signed. RAK is not yet part of the agreement.
August 6: The fifth anniversary of Sheikh Zayed becoming Ruler of Abu Dhabi, with official celebrations deferred until later in the year.
August 15: Bahrain becomes independent.
September 3: Qatar becomes independent.
November 23-25: Meeting with Sheikh Zayed and Sheikh Rashid and senior British officials to fix December 2 as date of creation of the UAE.
November 29: At 5.30pm Iranian forces seize the Greater and Lesser Tunbs by force.
November 30: Despite a power sharing agreement, Tehran takes full control of Abu Musa.
November 31: UK officials visit all six participating Emirates to formally end the Trucial States treaties
December 2: 11am, Dubai. New Supreme Council formally elects Sheikh Zayed as President. Treaty of Friendship signed with the UK. 11.30am. Flag raising ceremony at Union House and Al Manhal Palace in Abu Dhabi witnessed by Sheikh Khalifa, then Crown Prince of Abu Dhabi.
December 6: Arab League formally admits the UAE. The first British Ambassador presents his credentials to Sheikh Zayed.
December 9: UAE joins the United Nations.
What are the GCSE grade equivalents?
- Grade 9 = above an A*
- Grade 8 = between grades A* and A
- Grade 7 = grade A
- Grade 6 = just above a grade B
- Grade 5 = between grades B and C
- Grade 4 = grade C
- Grade 3 = between grades D and E
- Grade 2 = between grades E and F
- Grade 1 = between grades F and G
Two products to make at home
Toilet cleaner
1 cup baking soda
1 cup castile soap
10-20 drops of lemon essential oil (or another oil of your choice)
Method:
1. Mix the baking soda and castile soap until you get a nice consistency.
2. Add the essential oil to the mix.
Air Freshener
100ml water
5 drops of the essential oil of your choice (note: lavender is a nice one for this)
Method:
1. Add water and oil to spray bottle to store.
2. Shake well before use.
Champions League Last 16
Red Bull Salzburg (AUT) v Bayern Munich (GER)
Sporting Lisbon (POR) v Manchester City (ENG)
Benfica (POR) v Ajax (NED)
Chelsea (ENG) v Lille (FRA)
Atletico Madrid (ESP) v Manchester United (ENG)
Villarreal (ESP) v Juventus (ITA)
Inter Milan (ITA) v Liverpool (ENG)
Paris Saint-Germain v Real Madrid (ESP)
THREE POSSIBLE REPLACEMENTS
Khalfan Mubarak
The Al Jazira playmaker has for some time been tipped for stardom within UAE football, with Quique Sanchez Flores, his former manager at Al Ahli, once labelling him a “genius”. He was only 17. Now 23, Mubarak has developed into a crafty supplier of chances, evidenced by his seven assists in six league matches this season. Still to display his class at international level, though.
Rayan Yaslam
The Al Ain attacking midfielder has become a regular starter for his club in the past 15 months. Yaslam, 23, is a tidy and intelligent player, technically proficient with an eye for opening up defences. Developed while alongside Abdulrahman in the Al Ain first-team and has progressed well since manager Zoran Mamic’s arrival. However, made his UAE debut only last December.
Ismail Matar
The Al Wahda forward is revered by teammates and a key contributor to the squad. At 35, his best days are behind him, but Matar is incredibly experienced and an example to his colleagues. His ability to cope with tournament football is a concern, though, despite Matar beginning the season well. Not a like-for-like replacement, although the system could be adjusted to suit.
