UAE overcome Iraq in World Cup 2018 qualifier

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  • Striker Ahmed Khalil spectacularly volleyed home to set the UAE up for a tense win against Iraq which put them back into contention for World Cup 2018, but beleaguered coach Mahdi Ali then refused to definitively confirm he will be there see the job through.

    The 2015 AFC Player of the Year nearly broke the crossbar with a leading 15th goal in 13 matches during the Asian process just before the half-hour mark. Elation and relief were etched across the Whites players’ faces as the unrelenting pressure built up since last month’s devastating 3-0 drubbing in Saudi Arabia evaporated during one vivid moment of a match which was otherwise low on quality.

    Indeed, they could only relax when veteran forward Ismail Matar calmly sidefooted home with virtually the last kick for his 37th effort in 115 caps.

    This contest in Abu Dhabi had been a must-win for both combatants.

    For Ali, it was believed another negative result would have brought his groundbreaking four-year tenure to a premature close. Despite collecting a valuable three points to bring his nation right back into contention, he was noncommittal in his post-match press conference

    “For me, I didn’t think about this issue,” said the paternal 51-year-old, who has nurtured the ‘Golden Generation’ to the London 2012 Olympics, lifted the 2013 Gulf Cup and finished third at the 2015 Asian Cup. “My most important thing was to do my duty and to win this game.

    “Whether I am with the team or not be with the team, most important for this period was to win the game.

    “This game was very important for the team, regardless if we continue. For me, I am doing my job and I thank everybody.

    “We will see what will happen in the future.”

    Now with Japan beating the Group B-leading Saudis and perennial tournament finalists Australia surprisingly drawing in Thailand yesterday, the top four – from which only two automatically proceed – are only separated by one point as the third-and-final round reaches the halfway stage.

    A four-month break until March’s testing resumption in the Land of the Rising Sun, which should feature more discussion about Ali’s role, awaits for Tuesday night’s fourth-placed hosts.

    For the limited Lions of Mesopotamia, they received unwavering support from the boisterous visiting fans at a half-full and sterile Mohammed bin Zayed Stadium. But a long wait to feature on the globe’s grandest stage which stretches back to 1986 shows no sign of ending.

    With his job on the line, Ali brought back Al Jazira goalkeeper Ali Khaseif as one of three changes. Yet this shake-up didn’t illicit an instant uplift.

    Little seemed on as the ball cannoned off left-back Dhurgham Ismail, but Khalil generated incredible power on a strike which hammered in off the woodwork.

    This should have been lift off for the Whites, who are chasing World Cup-football for just the second time.

    They instead chose to attract danger by taking their foot off the pedal. Al Nasr forward Muhannad Abdulraheem scored all four goals for Iraq against Thailand last time out and his low shot caused panic as it rippled the side-netting.

    Headers from lanky centre forward Ayman Hussein and Emirates Club centre-back Ahmad Ibrahim forced Khaseif to athletically palm away in the second, while lionhearted Mohanad Salem’s crunching slide tackle then saved the day.

    Relief came just before the final whistle, as Al Wahda forward and crowd favourite Matar slotted in from Mabkhout’s cut back. Whether this will be the final act of Ali’s stewardship is unknown.

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