Ali Hassan Karim’s hat-trick helped defending champions UAE send out an ominous warning to their rivals on the opening day of the Asian Beach Soccer Championships, which are part of the 3rd Asian Beach Games, in Haiyang, China.
The Emiratis were in fine fettle from the start and showed they mean business with a dominating show against Group C rivals and Gulf neighbours Kuwait, winning 5-1.
Karim wasted little time in getting on the scoresheet, opening the scoring in the third minute of play. He made it 2-0 seven minutes later and completed his hat-trick in the 15th.
Mohamed Al Zaabi and Abbas Daryaei added one each to complete the scoring in the 18th and 21st minutes respectively.
Abdulwahab Al Safi reduced the deficit for the Kuwaitis with a strike in the 17th minute. Marcelo Mendes’ UAE side are at the top of Group C on the basis of a better goal difference from Lebanon, who upset fancied Bahrain 6-5 in a nail-biting finish in the other match.
Sadeq Marhoon’s brace and a goal each from Ebrahim Hasan and Mohamed Darwish gave Bahrain a commanding 4-0 lead, but the resurgent Lebanese fought back with Mohammad Merhi and Mohammad Matar making it 4-2.
Ebrahim Salman made it 5-2 in the 19th, but it was all Lebanon thereafter, with Merhi netting a second before a late brace from Ali Nassereddine and Haitham Fattal’s penalty conversion sealed a memorable win for Lebanon.
Elsewhere, in Group A, hosts China were given a run for their money by Afghanistan before winning 6-4, while Palestine thrashed Vietnam 6-2 in the other group game.
In Group B, powerhouses Oman beat Iraq 5-1, while Group D action saw Mohammad Ali Moktari scoring four times as Iran thumped Qatar 10-2.
In another match in the same group, Kazumasa Asami scored the winner in the dying stages of the match as Japan beat Thailand 2-1. The UAE face Lebanon today, while Kuwait take on Bahrain.
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