Manager Paulo Bento is confident of the UAE’s chances of reaching the next round of the Arabian Gulf Cup despite losing to hosts Kuwait 2-1 at the Jaber Al Ahmad Stadium on Tuesday.
The result moved Kuwait and Oman, who edged out Qatar 2-1 in the earlier match, to four points each and at the top of the table. The UAE and Qatar are on a point apiece, and the national team face Oman in a must-win game in the final group phase on Friday.
“The situation is difficult, but it's not impossible. We have to recover, we should analyse and then prepare. Of course not on the pitch because we don't have too much time to train given that we have only 72 hours,” Bento said after the match.
“We should spend all the energy in the preparation for the next game because it's still possible to qualify for the next round even if we know that the opponent is strong and the situation is not easy.
“We don't know what will happen until the end of the group phase. Yes, this is the situation that we created in the game against Kuwait. I’m not making excuses but we are responsible for the situation we are in.”
In a game that the UAE dominated, Kuwait capitalised on two defensive blunders after their opponents drew first blood five minutes into the game.
Harib Al Maazmi picked a pass from the right flank, beat two Kuwaiti defenders before a neat chip over charging goalkeeper Khaled Al Rashidi to provide Caio Canedo the simple task of heading the ball into the back of an empty net.
The UAE had chances to double the lead but Kuwait did not relent.
Kuwait scored both their goals on Khalifa Al Hammadi’s mistakes. The Al Jazira centre back fumbled in the last line of defence for Mohammad Dahan to make a steal and dash inside the area to shoot past a hapless goalkeeper Khalid Eisa for a 16th minute equaliser.
The UAE regrouped and attempted to avoid further damage. However, with a minute left and the UAE reduced to 10 men – centre back Kouame Autonne was sent off for his second bookable offence – Al Hammadi sent a poor back-pass towards Eisa which was intercepted by substitute Moath El Enezi, who fired home the winner.
Bento defended Al Hammadi, saying players do make errors.
“Khalifa has had very good performances with us since the beginning (of the World Cup qualifiers). In this game, he got into a situation but it’s not just his mistakes that we lost the game,” the Portuguese manager said.
“We created many scoring opportunities. However, the problem is that we gave our opponents the chances to score as well. I think we didn't control the game as well as we should. Now of course the situation is difficult but it's not impossible."
The UAE will rue a number of missed opportunities. They had a couple of shots at goal from Fabio Lima and Marcus Meloni saved by Al Rashidi. A few others whizzed over the goal, while Yahya Al Ghazzani’s effort crashed against the crossbar shortly before half time.
Soon after resumption, Meloni’s shot was blocked by Al Rashid and Caio’s effort on the rebound deflected off a defender to sail over the crossbar. Lima’s sliding effort in front of the post off a short cross from Al Ghassani also missed its mark 12 minutes from time.
Earlier, in the opening match on the night, Issam Al Sabhi struck twice as Oman rallied from a goal down to get the better of Qatar 2-1.
Almoez Ali gave Qatar a second minute lead before Al Sabhi cancelled the lead with a 20th minute spot kick before firing in the winner seven minutes into the second half.
The Omani forward, unmarked on the far side post, slammed Ali Al Busaidi’s cross from the left flank for his third goal in the competition.
Qatar were unlucky when substitute Abdeirahman Moustafa’s close range effort ricocheted off the far post four minutes from time.
