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IN PICS: UAE claim historic win over Japan

Barnaby Read 16:30 01/09/2016
The third round saw a busy day of action.

A superb brace from Ahmed Khalil handed Madhi Ali’s UAE side a stunning start to their 2018 World Cup third round qualifying with a famous come-from-behind 2-1 win over Japan in Tokyo.

The Blue Samurai had raced into an early lead with talisman Keisuke Honda headed home after just 11 minutes. The UAE’s defence was all at sea, leaving Honda unmarked at the far post, the AC Milan midfielder a grateful recipient of Hiroshi Kiyotake’s sublime ball.

But the UAE responded and rode their luck to claim an unlikely three points thanks to two contrasting pieces of brilliance from Khalil.

They were level just nine minutes later, thanks to Khalil’s free-kick, brought about by a typically incisive UAE counter led by Omar Abdulrahman.

Abdulrahman’s defence splitting pass found Ali Mabkhout, who in turn left Maya Yoshida with no other option than to bundle him to the floor.

Al Ahli frontman Khalil stepped up, the 2015 AFC Asian Player of the Year despatching his effort beyond a flailing Shusaku Nishikawa in the Japan goal.

The UAE’s focus was renewed but the team were still back-pedalling, their defence looking vulnerable every time Japan entered the final third.

The hosts started the second half brightly and it took just five minutes before Khalid Eisa was called upon to superbly tip Ryota Ohshima’s rasping effort over the bar.

But the UAE continued to resist and their devastating frontline took centre stage again when Ismail Al Hammadi was tripped in the box in the 54th minute – presenting Khalil the chance to put his side in front from the penalty spot.

He duly did so, scoring his 39th goal for the UAE in remarkably cool fashion. Inspired by Abdulrahman’s effort against Japan at the Asian Cup, Khalil repeated the Al Ain playmaker’s Panenka heroics to make it 2-1.

The UAE then had luck on their side when in the 77th minute, keeper Eisa looked to have made a stunning save to keep his side in it. The Al Ain stopper clawed Takuma Asano’s effort back into play but replays showed the ball was clearly over the line.

With no goal-line technology in place the UAE survived, and defended resolutely to earn a valuable opening win as they search for a first appearance at a World Cup since 1990.

THURSDAY’S OTHER RESULTS

AUSTRALIA 2-0 IRAQ

Hotshots Massimo Luongo and Tomi Juric were both on target as Australia overcame a dogged Iraq outfit to win 2-0 in their 2018 World Cup qualifier on Thursday.

The home side were strong favourites but they didn’t have it all their own way until QPR’s Luongo and FC Luzern striker Juric scored in a seven-minute, second-half burst.

SOUTH KOREA 3-2 CHINA

Zheng Zhi’s early own goal ultimately condemned China to a 3-2 defeat to South Korea on Thursday despite a spirited fight-back in their 2018 World Cup qualifier.

Lee Chung-Yong and Koo Ja-Cheol both scored to pile on the pain for China but the visitors nearly hauled their way back into it following late strikes from Yu Hai and Hao Junmin. However, a precious equaliser eluded Gao Hongbo’s men and they start with a defeat.

UZBEKISTAN 1-0 SYRIA

Super-sub Alexandr Geynrikh gave Uzbekistan the perfect 25th Independence Day present and an ideal start to the final round of qualification for the 2018 FIFA World Cup with a 1-0 win over Syria.

The Ordabasy forward came on in the second half and brought the match to life with a stunning strike in the 74th minute to seal all three points and a winning start to the campaign for Samvel Babayan and his team.

IRAN 2-0 QATAR

Injury time goals from Reza Ghoochannejhad and Alireza Jahanbaksh secured a dramatic 2-0 win for three-time FIFA World Cup qualifiers Iran over Qatar.

Substitute Ghoochannejhad capitalised on a horrendous mistake by Qatar goalkeeper Amine Lacomte to give the home side the lead four minutes into injury time before Jahanbaksh put the result beyond doubt with a fine long-range strike.

SAUDI ARABIA 1-0 THAILAND

Nawaf Al Abid’s penalty six minutes from time earned Saudi Arabia a narrow 1-0 win over a spirited Thailand as Kiatisuk Senamuang’s side were denied a deserved point from their opening 2018 FIFA World Cup qualifying match.

Al Abid scored form the spot after Fahad Al Muwallad was brought down in the area by Sarach Yooyen in the dying minutes of the game; with Chinese referee Fu Ming pointing to the spot before Al Abid broke Thai hearts.

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