UAE edge closer to Rio Olympics qualification

Matt Jones - Editor 09:46 01/04/2015
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  • UAE defender Hussain Abbas (r).

    The UAE qualified for the 2016 AFC Under-23 Championships with a 1-0 win over previously unbeaten Yemen.

    Saif Rashid’s goal early in the second half was enough for the junior Whites to secure a clean sweep of victories and reach the main stage of the Championships, which will take place in Qatar in January.

    A top-three finish there will provide the UAE with the chance to repeat their impressive displays at the 2012 Olympics in Rio in 2016.

    It has been a thoroughly professional job during qualifying from Dr Abdulla Misfir’s men, who kept three clean sheets en route to three Group D wins.

    Yesterday’s narrow triumph may not have been achieved with the swagger of the 4-0 and 3-0 wins against Sri Lanka and Tajikistan, but Misfir will have been pleased with his side’s resilience and defensive acumen.

    In a lively first half at Kalba Stadium in Fujairah, the hosts thought they had opened the scoring in the 32nd minute but Ahmed Rabia’s deflected free-kick brought a lightening reaction out of Salem Al Harsh, who punched the ball onto his own bar and to eventual safety.

    The second half was more subdued, with Sharjah Wanderers’ attacker Rashid’s clincher the highlight.

    Ahmed Barman tricked and teased his way through the Yemeni defence and his cross found its way to the 21-year-old who had the simplest of tasks to nudge the ball over the line from a yard out.

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