The UAE’s dream of reaching the Rio 2016 Olympics are over after an injury-depleted side fell to a 3-1 quarter-final, extra-time defeat to Iraq during the 2016 AFC U-23 Championship.
Dr Abdullah Misfer’s men required a top-three finish in Qatar to make a second-successive Games, but they conceded three unanswered goals following Alaa Ali Mhawi’s 75th-minute own goal to drop out of the reckoning.
Their cause was seriously hampered by withdrawals.
The star trio of Ahmed Barman, Salim Ali and Saif Rashid all picked up knocks in Wednesday’s Group D decider against Vietnam, with Al Wahda’s Salem Sultan and Mohamed Al Akbari coming off at Grand Hamad Stadium last night.
“It was a really tough game,” Dr Misfer said. “No one expected bef-ore it would be such a very tough game.
“We enjoyed the game, but it is unfortunate we could not win bec-ause we were unlucky in this tournament especially in this game. We have many players missing.”
The Whites came closest during a physical first half, Sharjah forward Yousif Saeed’s header centimetres away from crossing the line. They kept up the pressure after the interval and finally earned the breakthrough as Mhawi turned Al Akberi’s cross into his own net.
A mistake from Sharjah defender Mohamed Surour two minutes later allowed Ali Hisny to level and force extra time. Ex-AFC Youth Player of the Year Mohanad Abdulraheem then smashed in at the near post, before Amjad Attwan Kadhim sealed it with the last touch.
