UAE KEEP HOPES ALIVE DESPITE LOSS TO CHINA
PALEMBANG:
China claimed top spot after fighting back from a goal down to overcome UAE 2-1 in their final Group C match of the Asian Asian Games men’s football tournament on Sunday at the SI Jalak Harupat Stadium, while UAE look likely to advance as one of the best third-placed teams despite the defeat.
UAE, who bounced back from the 1-0 defeat to Syria in the opener with a 4-1 win over Timor-leste, bombarded the China defence early in the half and almost went ahead though Majid Salim’s effort in the 15th minute but goalkeeper Chen Wei kept the East Asians in the game.
UAE took the lead when Mohammed Almesmari found the net in the 32nd minute but their joy was short lived as talisman Wei Shihao found a way past goalkeeper Mohamed Alshamsi six minutes later for a 1-1 score at halftime.
Unbeaten China picked up their game in the second half as they were more organised in attack against the West Asians, who pressed their opponents after the restart.
The UAE missed opportunities to get ahead after Ali Alyahyaee and Rashed Musabbah failed to find the target
The East Asians went ahead through Yao Junsheng’s strike in the 72nd minute as China stayed firm to win the tie 2-1 and finish on top of the group ahead of Syria.
BANGLADESH ADVANCE
Meanwhile, Jamal Bhuyan was Bangladesh’s hero as his goal three minutes into added time gave the South Asians a 1-0 win over Qatar and a place in the knockout stage.
The result meant Thailand, who finished fourth in 2014, could be eliminated after falling to a 1-0 defeat to Group B winners Uzbekistan while Vietnam defeated Japan 1-0 to confirm top spot in Group C.
Uzbekistan had already sealed top spot in Group B but Thailand, Bangladesh and Qatar were all still in the running for second place, setting the stage for a tense 90 minutes in both ties. Bangladesh, who had lost 3-0 to Uzbekistan and held Thailand to a 1-1 draw, were forced to sit back for long periods against Qatar.
In fact, it not for steely defending, Bangladesh would have seen themselves trailing by several goals in the first half. It was the same in the second half but as the minutes ticked away, Qatar became more and more desperate for the three points they needed and suffered a massive blow when Bhuyan struck deep into added time for the three points. With Thailand falling 1-0 to Uzbekistan, courtesy of Zabikhillo Urinboev’s 17th minute strike, the South Asians were through, Qatar eliminated and Thailand’s hopes hanging by a thread as they await tomorrow’s final round of group matches.
Syria came back from a goal down in the first half to beat Timor-leste 5-2, and seal their spot as Group C runners-up. Syria were undaunted and theyoungq as ioun eagles eventually found the equal is er, courtesy of Zakria Hannan’s 33rd minute effort, before Mahmood Albaher put them in the lead two minutes before the half-time whistle.
Muhannad Alfakeer’s charges returned in the second half as fierce as ever, and increased their lead when Mohammed Kamel Koaeh and Abdulhadi Shalha etched their names on the scoresheet in the 50th and 54th minutes respectively to make it 4-1 for Syria.