UAE through to football semi-finals after shootout
The UAE are through to the semi-finals of the football in the Asian Games following a tense penalty-shootout victory against North Korea in Indonesia yesterday.
The Under-23 side, managed by Maciej Skorza, came back from a goal down at the Pakansari Stadium in West Java to draw the match 1-1, before goalkeeper Mohammed Al Shamsi produced the crucial save in the shootout. The UAE now face Japan tomorrow for a place in the final.
It was North Korea who took the lead in the quarter-final just after the hour, when Kank Kukchol exchanged a neat one-two with Kim Kuk-bom before finding striker Kim Yu-song with a fine cross.
The unmarked North Korean striker headed the ball home off the inside of the UAE post, leaving Al Shamsi was rooted to the spot. It was Kim’s fourth goal of the tournament.
However, the Emirates responded instantly. Four minutes after conceding, top scorer Zayed Al Ameri broke down the UAE right and, with goalkeeper Kang Ju-hyok stranded, his pinpoint cross picked out frontman Ali Eid to head into an empty net.
In extra-time, Kim Kuk-bom crashed an effort off the opposition post before Rashid blocked the rebound on the line.
Pushed to penalties for the second successive match – on Friday, the UAE defeated hosts Indonesia in a shootout – Skorza’s young charges stood strong once more from the spot.
Both sides had successfully converted until So Jong-hyok’s effort was saved by Al Shamsi. That left Mohammed Rashid to keep his cool and send his side into the last four.
In track cycling, Yousif Mirza said the UAE have achieved their first objective after qualifying for the medal round in the Team Pursuit at the Jakarta International Velodrome.
The UAE will go into today’s final round behind South Korea, Hong Kong, Kazakhstan, China, Japan, Malaysia and Thailand.
Mirza said: “The important thing for us in this qualifying round was to make sure we are in the finals.”
The UAE showjumping team are well placed after the opening rounds of the qualifiers in both the team and individual at the Jakarta International Equestrian Park.
Led by Sheikha Latifa Al Maktoum, the UAE were fourth in the four-rider team behind Saudi Arabia, Qatar and Japan.