A convincing 4-1 victory over Qatar has consolidated the UAE’s reputation as an emerging force in football and has set the scene for an exciting Asian Cup campaign. It was the first time the UAE team had scored four goals in an Asian Cup game, and the first time it had won by a three-goal margin.
Leading the charge in Canberra on Sunday were Ahmed Khalil and Ali Mabkhout, both of whom scored twice, and Omar Abdulrahman, who secured his reputation as a playmaker and flamboyant crowd favourite.
Next up, on Thursday, the national team will take on Bahrain. The only hitch for fans at home is that the match starts at 11am. Hopefully, bosses around the country will offer a little flexibility in working hours to make sure that as many of us as possible get to enjoy the live television coverage. After all, even the Cabinet took a short break from matters of state to watch Sunday’s game.
