Scoreline
UAE 2-1 Saudi Arabia
UAE Mabkhout 21’, Khalil 59’
Saudi Al Abed (pen) 20’
Man of the match Ahmed Khalil (UAE)
Somehow, the UAE kept alive their World Cup dream on Tuesday night, forcing an unexpected and unlikely victory against Saudi Arabia to extend their improbable bid into its final week.
Shorn of principal playmaker Omar Abdulrahman at the Hazza bin Zayed Stadium, Edgardo Bauza’s side recovered from Nawaf Al Abed’s first-half penalty and rebounded against their great Gulf rivals to seal a famous win. That despite Mahmoud Khamis’s red card late on.
For the victory, the UAE could thank Ali Mabkhout and Ahmed Khalil, who chipped in a goal apiece, each superb, each displaying why the national team need not rely on Abdulrahman after all. Seemingly without any real hope, the rescue mission to Russia rumbles on. It pushes that quest until next week.
In truth, it was never really meant to be that way. Not least because the UAE entered the match fourth in Group B, requiring maximum points from the Saudis and then Iraq in seven days’ time to stand any chance.
With only those two fixtures remaining, other results had to fall in their favour. A healthy swing in goal difference was required, too. Not least, also, since Bauza took charge for only the second competitive match since his appointment in May.
Yet the UAE triumphed and their World Cup chances sustain. A play-off spot, however improbable that remains, may just be within grasp.
Initially, it appeared anything but. On 18 minutes, Saudi Arabia were awarded a penalty, when Al Abed swivelled onto a Yasser Al Shahrani pass and was caught by Mohammed Fawzi’s outstretched leg. The decision was correct, with Al Abed nonchalantly sending Khalid Essa the wrong way with his spot-kick.
The visitors’ joy was short-lived. Less than a minute after the restart, Mabkhout controlled brilliantly Tariq Ahmed’s cross, then half-volleyed the ball low past goalkeeper Abdullah Al Mayouf and into the bottom corner.
Also from John McAuley:
Carved almost in one movement, it was a goal of real class. Mabkhout, the 2016/17 Arabian Gulf League’s top goalscorer, had drawn his side level.
Not long into the second half, the Saudis almost restored their lead. This time, captain Osama Hawsawi crashed his header from a corner against the UAE crossbar. Five minutes later, Yahya Al Shehri sent a free header wide.
Then, nearly from nowhere, Khalil struck. The UAE forward stepped inside from the left and onto his right foot, thrashing a long-range effort high into the Saudi goal. It was Khalil’s 16th goal of qualification, drawing him alongside Saudi counterpart Mohammed Al Sahlawi at the top of the charts. Bauza’s men had a lifeline. In the end, even Khamis’s last-minute red card could not wreck their night.
Also read:
Paul Radley: Bauza lauds UAE but plays down World Cup chances
A 2-1 victory sealed - their first win against Saudi since 2007 - has lifted spirits for what should prove to be a frantic final week to come. On Thursday, group leaders Japan take on third-placed Australia, then five days later the UAE meet Iraq. Hours after, the Saudis host Japan.
Somehow, and against all odds, the UAE live to fight another day.
UAE currency: the story behind the money in your pockets
Sole survivors
- Cecelia Crocker was on board Northwest Airlines Flight 255 in 1987 when it crashed in Detroit, killing 154 people, including her parents and brother. The plane had hit a light pole on take off
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UAE currency: the story behind the money in your pockets
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BRIEF SCORES:
Toss: Nepal, chose to field
UAE 153-6: Shaiman (59), Usman (30); Regmi 2-23
Nepal 132-7: Jora 53 not out; Zahoor 2-17
Result: UAE won by 21 runs
Series: UAE lead 1-0
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hall of shame
SUNDERLAND 2002-03
No one has ended a Premier League season quite like Sunderland. They lost each of their final 15 games, taking no points after January. They ended up with 19 in total, sacking managers Peter Reid and Howard Wilkinson and losing 3-1 to Charlton when they scored three own goals in eight minutes.
SUNDERLAND 2005-06
Until Derby came along, Sunderland’s total of 15 points was the Premier League’s record low. They made it until May and their final home game before winning at the Stadium of Light while they lost a joint record 29 of their 38 league games.
HUDDERSFIELD 2018-19
Joined Derby as the only team to be relegated in March. No striker scored until January, while only two players got more assists than goalkeeper Jonas Lossl. The mid-season appointment Jan Siewert was to end his time as Huddersfield manager with a 5.3 per cent win rate.
ASTON VILLA 2015-16
Perhaps the most inexplicably bad season, considering they signed Idrissa Gueye and Adama Traore and still only got 17 points. Villa won their first league game, but none of the next 19. They ended an abominable campaign by taking one point from the last 39 available.
FULHAM 2018-19
Terrible in different ways. Fulham’s total of 26 points is not among the lowest ever but they contrived to get relegated after spending over £100 million (Dh457m) in the transfer market. Much of it went on defenders but they only kept two clean sheets in their first 33 games.
LA LIGA: Sporting Gijon, 13 points in 1997-98.
BUNDESLIGA: Tasmania Berlin, 10 points in 1965-66
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Someone illegally obtains your confidential information, through various ways, such as theft of your wallet, bank and utility bill statements, computer intrusion and social networks.
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Bournemouth 0
Manchester United 2
Smalling (28'), Lukaku (70')
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more from Janine di Giovanni
Mohammed bin Zayed Majlis
Essentials
The flights
Etihad and Emirates fly direct from the UAE to Delhi from about Dh950 return including taxes.
The hotels
Double rooms at Tijara Fort-Palace cost from 6,670 rupees (Dh377), including breakfast.
Doubles at Fort Bishangarh cost from 29,030 rupees (Dh1,641), including breakfast. Doubles at Narendra Bhawan cost from 15,360 rupees (Dh869). Doubles at Chanoud Garh cost from 19,840 rupees (Dh1,122), full board. Doubles at Fort Begu cost from 10,000 rupees (Dh565), including breakfast.
The tours
Amar Grover travelled with Wild Frontiers. A tailor-made, nine-day itinerary via New Delhi, with one night in Tijara and two nights in each of the remaining properties, including car/driver, costs from £1,445 (Dh6,968) per person.
Killing of Qassem Suleimani
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MATCH INFO
What: 2006 World Cup quarter-final
When: July 1
Where: Gelsenkirchen Stadium, Gelsenkirchen, Germany
Result:
England 0 Portugal 0
(Portugal win 3-1 on penalties)
The five pillars of Islam
Scoreline
UAE 2-1 Saudi Arabia
UAE Mabkhout 21’, Khalil 59’
Saudi Al Abed (pen) 20’
Man of the match Ahmed Khalil (UAE)
