The UAE are on the precipice of qualifying for the 2018 Asian Games knockout stages – but a daunting task awaits against Group C juggernauts China in Soreang on Sunday.
Maciej Skorza’s Under-23 side opened the Games with a meek 1-0 defeat at the hands of Syria on Tuesday, but a morale-boosting 4-1 thrashing of East-Timor on Thursday earned them their first win, meaning they are currently going through as one of the four best third-placed teams.
Their current goal difference of +2 puts them second behind tournament co-hosts Indonesia.
That could all change following the final group games but the Junior Whites will head into Sunday’s clash at the 27,000 capacity Stadion Si Jalak Harupat at least buoyed by their easy win on Thursday.
Ittihad Kalba midfielder Shaheen Surour opened the scoring in just the second minute and the UAE were well on their way to a maiden victory of the tournament after 10 minutes when 25-year-old Al Wahda centre-back Salem Sultan nodded in Jassem Yaqoub’s corner.
Yaqoub, 21, the talented Al Nasr forward, then laid on a third for Al Jazira youngster Zayed Al Ameri to make it 3-0 after just 19 minutes. Mesmerising footwork from the Blue Wave man left his marker chasing shadows and he centred for Jazira youngster Al Ameri, also 21, who rifled home.
The rising Pride of Abu Dhabi talent then made it 4-0 just beyond the hour mark as he profited from a defensive mix-up to prod home.
Timor-Leste grabbed a consolation three minutes from the end when Rufino netted following a counter-attack.
China dismantled Timor-Leste in their opening game 6-0 – Gao Zhunyi netting a brace – before beating Syria 3-0 on Thursday.
Son Heung-min came off the bench but was unable to prevent South Korea from falling to defeat on Friday.
He ain’t no fortunate Son
Son Heung-min‘s hopes of avoiding military service by securing Asian Games gold suffered a blow Friday as South Korea were stunned 2-1 by minnows Malaysia.
The Tottenham Hotspur forward came off the bench just before the hour-mark but couldn’t help the defending champions overturn a two-goal deficit, after Safawi Rasid’s first-half double for 171st-ranked Malaysia.
Son is skipping Premier League action for the regional Olympics, where victory would mean an exemption from South Korea’s mandatory 21 months of military service.
Son, 26, was released by Spurs for the tournament, which represents his final chance to avoid nearly two years in military barracks – a serious setback to his career.
South Korea, who thrashed Bahrain 6-0 in their opening match, dominated possession in the second half, particularly after Son’s introduction, but were unable to claw their way back.
Japan-based striker Hwang Ui-jo, who is also facing his final chance to avoid military service, pulled one goal back for the Koreans late on.
And Son had a golden chance to equalise with a free-kick just outside the box in the last minute, but he placed it inches wide of the post.
Malaysia, 114 places lower than their opponents in the FIFA rankings, were happy to sit deep and play on the break, and frustrated the South Koreans further with frequent stoppages.
Malaysia’s Rasid opened the scoring after just five minutes and he cannoned his second in off the post in first-half injury time.
However, the Taegeuk Warriors’ hopes remain very much alive as they now require a draw against Kyrgyzstan in their final group clash to reach the knockout stages.
