Performance of UAE bench against Bangladesh delights Walid Abbas

  • Facebook
  • Twitter
  • Mail
  • Pinterest
  • LinkedIn
  • Facebook
  • Twitter
  • WhatsApp
  • Pinterest
  • LinkedIn
  • Good opportunity: Walid Abbas.

    The Whites smashed the lowly Bengal Tigers 6-1 on Friday night ahead of the deciding home matches against Palestine and Saudi Arabia as the second round in the AFC process reaches its conclusion.

    A much-changed side, because of AFC Champions League commitments, handed out the thrashing, with players such as perennial substitute Salem Saleh impressing with a brace. Al Ahli left-back Abbas believed this run-out for several lesser lights would prove invaluable in the competitive matches to come during the next 10 days.

    He said: “I think it was an easy game. We could have won by more goals, but we lost a lot of chances.

    “It was good for some players (to play), as they are not playing in the Arabian Gulf League. They can now get onto the same level as others.”

    Back-up centre-back Fares Juma was the only starter from Al Jazira, Al Ain and Al Nasr because of their players’ late arrivals in camp because of Asian club action. This afforded the likes of Al Dhafra forward Ahmed Ali a chance to start alongside the typically-large Ahli contingent, while usual unused substitute Hassan Ibrahim of Al Shabab played the entire second half as a makeshift defender.

    The scoring was dominated by forwards, winger Ismail Al Hammadi’s first-minute opener the exception. Ali and Saleh got doubles, while 2015 AFC Asian Player of the Year Ahmed Khalil put the Whites back ahead four minutes after the interval with a header.

    Abbas was happy with the striking department’s confidence boost.

    He said: “When you score, it gives you the idea in the future that you must score more. It is a good thing.

    “It was an easy game for us. But we hope in the next games we can keep scoring goals.”

    The UAE sit second in Group A, one place behind Saudi Arabia and one place above Palestine. Only the winners are guaranteed to progress, with the four best runners-up from the eight sections following them into the third round.

    Recommended