A superb brace from Ahmed Khalil handed Madhi Ali’s UAE side a stunning start to their 2018 World Cup third round qualifying with a famous come-from-behind 2-1 win over Japan in Tokyo.
The Blue Samurai had raced into an early lead with talisman Keisuke Honda headed home after just 11 minutes. The UAE’s defence was all at sea, leaving Honda unmarked at the far post, the AC Milan midfielder a grateful recipient of Hiroshi Kiyotake’s sublime ball.
But the UAE responded and rode their luck to claim an unlikely three points thanks to two contrasting pieces of brilliance from Khalil.
THAT Ahmed Khalil leveller.pic.twitter.com/RWgOs2lxwe
— Sport360° (@Sport360) September 1, 2016
Oh, Ahmed Khalil...pic.twitter.com/kEqh5qtkom
— Sport360° (@Sport360) September 1, 2016
ما رأيكم بقرار الحكم القطري في لقاء #اليابان_الامارات؟ #WCQ pic.twitter.com/pfKwjYDbgl
— beIN SPORTS (@beINSPORTS_MENA) September 1, 2016
pic.twitter.com/GNls1M7uOm @MassLuongo scores for the @Socceroos #AUSvIRQ @QPRFC
— QPR Australia (@hoopsdownunder) September 1, 2016
FULL-TIME | Three points for Korea Republic after a hard-fought 3-2 win over China! #KORvCHN #WCQ2018 #RoadToRussia pic.twitter.com/On5lVutIWx
— The-AFC.com (@theafcdotcom) September 1, 2016
74' GOAL! Uzbekistan take a 1-0 lead through Aleksandr Geynrikh! #UZBvSYR #WCQ2018 #RoadToRussia pic.twitter.com/hgXG0XbwXx
— The-AFC.com (@theafcdotcom) September 1, 2016
Injury time goals from Reza Ghoochannejhad and Alireza Jahanbaksh secured a dramatic 2-0 win for three-time FIFA World Cup qualifiers Iran over Qatar.
Substitute Ghoochannejhad capitalised on a horrendous mistake by Qatar goalkeeper Amine Lacomte to give the home side the lead four minutes into injury time before Jahanbaksh put the result beyond doubt with a fine long-range strike.
YESSSS, This is #TeamMelli
— IRAN (@TeamMelliIran) September 1, 2016
IRAN 2-0 @QFA
#IRNQAT pic.twitter.com/CtbtSPIGeS
SAUDI ARABIA 1-0 THAILAND