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UAE GO DOWN FIGHTING TO ARMENIA IN FRIENDLY
Khaleej Times, UAE
May 29 2014
Hisham Al Gizouli / 29 May 2014
Emirati team put up valiant performance in seven-goal thriller.
UAE's Ahmed Khalil vies for the ball with an Armenian player during
their friendly match on Tuesday. -- Supplied photo
Armenia earned a narrow 4-3 victory over UAE senior football national
team in a friendly at the Stade de La Fontenette Carouge in Switzerland
on Tuesday night.
The clash is the first of nine warm ups for the squad ahead of the
22nd Gulf Cup (Khaliji 22) scheduled in Riyadh, KSA in November and
the AFC Asian Cup finals Australia 2015 early next year.
Ismail Ahmed (40), Omer Abdul Rahman (51) and Muhanad Al Enazi (85)
struck for the UAE as Levon Hayrapetyan (38), Henrikh Mkhitaryan (42,
67) and Rumyan Hovsepyan scored for the European side.
Ali Mabkhout squandered the first scoring opportunity for the UAE in
the second minute from the fast start after the Al Jazira international
made a major breakthrough, but the 'keeper blocked his move into a
corner. Towards the 8th minute, the Armenian defenders cleared two
attempts by Omer Abdul Rahman and Ismail Al Hammadi. Ali Mabkhout tried
his luck with a long range shot, but his effort went few inches past
the left pole. At this stage, the Armenians managed to redeploy their
squad and began to pose a real threat against the UAE 'keeper Khalid
Essa thanks to the helpful assistance of Henrikh Mkhitaryan. However,
the European's hard work paid dividends and Levon broke the deadlock
in the 38th minute of the first half with a fast counterattack.
The UAE head coach Mahdi Ali was forced to pull out injured libro
Hamdan Al Kamali and send in Muhanad Al Enazi after the Whites were
0-1 down to Armenia. One minute later, Al Ain's international defender
Ismail Ahmed headed home the Omer Abdul Rahman's perfect croner kick
to level for the UAE with three minutes remaining from the end of
the first period. But, Mkhitaryan spoiled the party with a lovely
rebound to end the first half ahead.
On resumption the two sides managed to play total football to the
delight of the few fans. Mahdi Ali sent in Essa Ahmed to replace Abdul
Aziz Haikal to stop the endless trouble caused on the right flank.
Once again, the UAE lads battled back and Omer Abdul Rahman fired
home the equaliser in the 51st minute thanks to a spoon-fed through
from Ali Mabkhout.
Thereafter, Mohammed Abdul Rahman and Mohammed Ahmed substituted
Ismail Al Hammadi and Ismail Ahmed. And while the Whites began to
set their pace, Mkhitaryan came again with a strong run to beat UAE
defenders and keeper and make it 3-2 for Armenia in the 67th minute
before Rumyan has headed home the fourth goal.
The UAE boys struggled hard to reduce the deficit and Mahdi Ali pulled
out Ahmed Khalil and replaced him with Salem Saleh as Ali Salmin took
the place of Khamis Ismail. Towards the 85th minute, Al Enazi made it
3-4 with a lovely header, but all their efforts to level the result
were in vain until the final whistle.
Meanwhile, this was the first defeat for the UAE since September 2012
when they were defeated 0-1 by Japan in the first test for Mahdi Ali
after taking over the senior national team. Ali led the boys in white
to 20 wins in official and friendly starts plus two draws and three
defeats. Korea beat UAE 1-0 in their China's tour in preparation for
the AFC Asian Cup Qualifiers, but the match was not played on the
Fifa days.
Salem Al Enazi scored for the first time for the UAE against Armenia
and Ali Salmin made his international debut as substitute for Khamis
Ismail in the second half.
http://www.khaleejtimes.com/sport/inside_sport.asp?xfile=/data/nationsports/2014/May/nationsports_May226.xml§ion=nationsports
Khaleej Times, UAE
May 29 2014
Hisham Al Gizouli / 29 May 2014
Emirati team put up valiant performance in seven-goal thriller.
UAE's Ahmed Khalil vies for the ball with an Armenian player during
their friendly match on Tuesday. -- Supplied photo
Armenia earned a narrow 4-3 victory over UAE senior football national
team in a friendly at the Stade de La Fontenette Carouge in Switzerland
on Tuesday night.
The clash is the first of nine warm ups for the squad ahead of the
22nd Gulf Cup (Khaliji 22) scheduled in Riyadh, KSA in November and
the AFC Asian Cup finals Australia 2015 early next year.
Ismail Ahmed (40), Omer Abdul Rahman (51) and Muhanad Al Enazi (85)
struck for the UAE as Levon Hayrapetyan (38), Henrikh Mkhitaryan (42,
67) and Rumyan Hovsepyan scored for the European side.
Ali Mabkhout squandered the first scoring opportunity for the UAE in
the second minute from the fast start after the Al Jazira international
made a major breakthrough, but the 'keeper blocked his move into a
corner. Towards the 8th minute, the Armenian defenders cleared two
attempts by Omer Abdul Rahman and Ismail Al Hammadi. Ali Mabkhout tried
his luck with a long range shot, but his effort went few inches past
the left pole. At this stage, the Armenians managed to redeploy their
squad and began to pose a real threat against the UAE 'keeper Khalid
Essa thanks to the helpful assistance of Henrikh Mkhitaryan. However,
the European's hard work paid dividends and Levon broke the deadlock
in the 38th minute of the first half with a fast counterattack.
The UAE head coach Mahdi Ali was forced to pull out injured libro
Hamdan Al Kamali and send in Muhanad Al Enazi after the Whites were
0-1 down to Armenia. One minute later, Al Ain's international defender
Ismail Ahmed headed home the Omer Abdul Rahman's perfect croner kick
to level for the UAE with three minutes remaining from the end of
the first period. But, Mkhitaryan spoiled the party with a lovely
rebound to end the first half ahead.
On resumption the two sides managed to play total football to the
delight of the few fans. Mahdi Ali sent in Essa Ahmed to replace Abdul
Aziz Haikal to stop the endless trouble caused on the right flank.
Once again, the UAE lads battled back and Omer Abdul Rahman fired
home the equaliser in the 51st minute thanks to a spoon-fed through
from Ali Mabkhout.
Thereafter, Mohammed Abdul Rahman and Mohammed Ahmed substituted
Ismail Al Hammadi and Ismail Ahmed. And while the Whites began to
set their pace, Mkhitaryan came again with a strong run to beat UAE
defenders and keeper and make it 3-2 for Armenia in the 67th minute
before Rumyan has headed home the fourth goal.
The UAE boys struggled hard to reduce the deficit and Mahdi Ali pulled
out Ahmed Khalil and replaced him with Salem Saleh as Ali Salmin took
the place of Khamis Ismail. Towards the 85th minute, Al Enazi made it
3-4 with a lovely header, but all their efforts to level the result
were in vain until the final whistle.
Meanwhile, this was the first defeat for the UAE since September 2012
when they were defeated 0-1 by Japan in the first test for Mahdi Ali
after taking over the senior national team. Ali led the boys in white
to 20 wins in official and friendly starts plus two draws and three
defeats. Korea beat UAE 1-0 in their China's tour in preparation for
the AFC Asian Cup Qualifiers, but the match was not played on the
Fifa days.
Salem Al Enazi scored for the first time for the UAE against Armenia
and Ali Salmin made his international debut as substitute for Khamis
Ismail in the second half.
http://www.khaleejtimes.com/sport/inside_sport.asp?xfile=/data/nationsports/2014/May/nationsports_May226.xml§ion=nationsports