Typically a man for the grand occasion, Ahmed Khalil proved the UAE’s rescue act once more.
Like much of this Asian Cup on home soil, the hosts scraped by, doing just about enough to see off Kyrgyzstan on a frantic night in Abu Dhabi. Somewhat fortuitously, a place in the quarter-finals is theirs.
For the majority, it was not pretty at a half-full Zayed Sports City Stadium on Monday night. The UAE lead twice and twice surrendered their advantage, the second slip pushing the match to extra time. But having been introduced late into the game, Khalil produced the goods yet again, from his familiar comfort of the penalty spot.
The UAE eked a 3-2 victory, finally dispatched the debutants to tee up a last-eight encounter against Australia. Vast improvement will be required in Al Ain on Friday, against the defending champions and in a re-run of the 2015 semi-final, but they should be thankful simply to be there. It had almost slipped away.
The UAE had been granted the perfect start. On 14 minutes, the recalled Ismail Matar’s corner was headed goalwards by Khalifa Mubarak, before Khamis Esmail directed home.
However, just like against Thailand last week, the hosts let their opponents back in. Their lead lasted 12 minutes. Discovering space had opened up, Kyrgyzstan’s Akhlidin Israilov floated a pass through to Mirlan Murzaev. The powerful forward had run off the back of Esmail and, advancing into the gap before him, rounded goalkeeper Khalid Essa to slide the ball into the UAE goal.
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Read more on Asian Cup:
Mat Ryan the shoot-out hero as Australia advance to Asian Cup quarter-finals
South Korea and Newcastle midfielder Ki Sung-yueng ruled out of Asian Cup
Oman exit Asian Cup with heads held high after last-16 defeat to Iran
UAE full of harmony and focus ahead of last-16 tie against Kyrgyzstan
Majed Hassan calls on UAE fans to 'get behind us' against Kyrgyzstan
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Both Mubarak and Bandar Al Ahbabi had skidded to clear, with the former clattering the base of the post. As Kyrgyzstan celebrated the equaliser and settled back into their rhythm, Mubarak was carried off on a stretcher.
The UAE should have reclaimed the advantage moments into the second half, but Mabkhout failed somehow to provide the finishing touch to Al Ahbabi’s run and fine cross. Nodding wide from four yards, the 2015 Asian Cup top scorer continues to struggle to live up to his star billing - despite two goals thus far.
Not long after Mabkhout’s miss, Kyrgyzstan struck the woodwork. Captain Valerii Kichin curled the ball off the UAE upright. Rooted to the spot, Essa breathed a hefty sigh of relief. Those inside the stadium did too.
On 64 minutes, and against the run of play, the UAE went 2-1 up. Having only been introduced, Ismail Al Hammadi chased down a lost cause and the ball eventually found its way to Amer Abdulrahman, who flighted a perfectly weighted pass to Mabkhout. This time, the Al Jazira striker made no mistake, controlling well before firing past Kutman Kadyrbekov in the Kyrgyzstan goal.
As the match crawled to its conclusion, Kyrgyzstan pressed. Just when they seemed set to rue poor finishing, they struck right at the death, when substitute Tursunali Rustamov brushed home Anton Zemlianukhin’s 91st-minute corner. Deservedly, Kyrgyzstan had a lifeline.
In the first half of extra time, Mabkhout screwed high and wide when through on goal, then scuffed at Al Hammadi’s cross when well-placed to score. Then Khalil provided the saving touch. Mabkhout had been pulled back in the box by Bekzhan Sagynbaev, leaving Khalil to slot his penalty past Kadyrbekov, although only just.
Still, Kyrgyzstan twice struck the woodwork. That about summed up the UAE’s night, even their tournament thus far. They stumble on.
KEY DEVELOPMENTS IN MARITIME DISPUTE
2000: Israel withdraws from Lebanon after nearly 30 years without an officially demarcated border. The UN establishes the Blue Line to act as the frontier.
2007: Lebanon and Cyprus define their respective exclusive economic zones to facilitate oil and gas exploration. Israel uses this to define its EEZ with Cyprus
2011: Lebanon disputes Israeli-proposed line and submits documents to UN showing different EEZ. Cyprus offers to mediate without much progress.
2018: Lebanon signs first offshore oil and gas licencing deal with consortium of France’s Total, Italy’s Eni and Russia’s Novatek.
2018-2019: US seeks to mediate between Israel and Lebanon to prevent clashes over oil and gas resources.
Killing of Qassem Suleimani
What can victims do?
Always use only regulated platforms
Stop all transactions and communication on suspicion
Save all evidence (screenshots, chat logs, transaction IDs)
Report to local authorities
Warn others to prevent further harm
Courtesy: Crystal Intelligence
KILLING OF QASSEM SULEIMANI
BMW M5 specs
Engine: 4.4-litre twin-turbo V-8 petrol enging with additional electric motor
Power: 727hp
Torque: 1,000Nm
Transmission: 8-speed auto
Fuel consumption: 10.6L/100km
On sale: Now
Price: From Dh650,000
AT%20A%20GLANCE
%3Cp%3E%3Cstrong%3EWindfall%3C%2Fstrong%3E%0D%3Cbr%3EAn%20%E2%80%9Cenergy%20profits%20levy%E2%80%9D%20to%20raise%20around%20%C2%A35bn%20in%20a%20year.%20The%20temporary%20one-off%20tax%20will%20hit%20oil%20and%20gas%20firms%20by%2025%20per%20cent%20on%20extraordinary%20profits.%20An%2080%20per%20cent%20investment%20allowance%20should%20calm%20Conservative%20nerves%20that%20the%20move%20will%20dent%20North%20Sea%20firms%E2%80%99%20investment%20to%20save%20them%2091p%20for%20every%20%C2%A31%20they%20spend.%0D%3Cbr%3E%3Cstrong%3EA%20universal%20grant%3C%2Fstrong%3E%0D%3Cbr%3EEnergy%20bills%20discount%2C%20which%20was%20effectively%20a%20%C2%A3200%20loan%2C%20has%20doubled%20to%20a%20%C2%A3400%20discount%20on%20bills%20for%20all%20households%20from%20October%20that%20will%20not%20need%20to%20be%20paid%20back.%0D%3Cbr%3E%3Cstrong%3ETargeted%20measures%3C%2Fstrong%3E%0D%3Cbr%3EMore%20than%20eight%20million%20of%20the%20lowest%20income%20households%20will%20receive%20a%20%C2%A3650%20one-off%20payment.%20It%20will%20apply%20to%20households%20on%20Universal%20Credit%2C%20Tax%20Credits%2C%20Pension%20Credit%20and%20legacy%20benefits.%0D%3Cbr%3ESeparate%20one-off%20payments%20of%20%C2%A3300%20will%20go%20to%20pensioners%20and%20%C2%A3150%20for%20those%20receiving%20disability%20benefits.%3C%2Fp%3E%0A
Five healthy carbs and how to eat them
Brown rice: consume an amount that fits in the palm of your hand
Non-starchy vegetables, such as broccoli: consume raw or at low temperatures, and don’t reheat
Oatmeal: look out for pure whole oat grains or kernels, which are locally grown and packaged; avoid those that have travelled from afar
Fruit: a medium bowl a day and no more, and never fruit juices
Lentils and lentil pasta: soak these well and cook them at a low temperature; refrain from eating highly processed pasta variants
Courtesy Roma Megchiani, functional nutritionist at Dubai’s 77 Veggie Boutique
Killing of Qassem Suleimani
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KILLING OF QASSEM SULEIMANI
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%3Cp%3E%3Cstrong%3E%0DMain%20Event%0D%3A%20Lightweight%20Title%3C%2Fstrong%3E%0D%3Cbr%3EAmru%20Magomedov%20def%20Jakhongir%20Jumaev%20-%20Round%201%20(submission)%0D%3Cbr%3E%3Cstrong%3ECo-Main%20Event%0D%3A%20Bantamweight%3C%2Fstrong%3E%0D%3Cbr%3ERany%20Saadeh%20def%20Genil%20Franciso%20-%20Round%202%20(submission)%0D%3Cbr%3E%3Cstrong%3ECatchweight%20150%20lbs%3C%2Fstrong%3E%0D%3Cbr%3EWalter%20Cogliandro%20def%20Ali%20Al%20Qaisi%20-%20Round%201%20(TKO)%0D%3Cbr%3E%3Cstrong%3EBantamweight%3C%2Fstrong%3E%0D%3Cbr%3ERenat%20Khavalov%20def%20Hikaru%20Yoshino%20-%20Round%202%20(TKO)%0D%3Cbr%3E%3Cstrong%3EFlyweight%3C%2Fstrong%3E%0D%3Cbr%3EVictor%20Nunes%20def%20Nawras%20Abzakh%20-%20Round%201%20(TKO)%0D%3Cbr%3E%3Cstrong%3EFlyweight%3C%2Fstrong%3E%0D%3Cbr%3EYamato%20Fujita%20def%20Sanzhar%20Adilov%20-%20Round%201%20(submission)%0D%3Cbr%3E%3Cstrong%3ELightweight%3C%2Fstrong%3E%0D%3Cbr%3EAbdullo%20Khodzhaev%20def%20Petru%20Buzdugen%20-%20Round%201%20(TKO)%0D%3Cbr%3E%3Cstrong%3ECatchweight%20139%20lbs%3C%2Fstrong%3E%0D%3Cbr%3ERazhabali%20Shaydullaev%20def%20Magomed%20Al-Abdullah%20-%20Round%202%20(submission)%0D%3Cbr%3E%3Cstrong%3EFlyweight%3C%2Fstrong%3E%0D%3Cbr%3ECong%20Wang%20def%20Amena%20Hadaya%20-%20Points%20(unanimous%20decision)%0D%3Cbr%3E%3Cstrong%3EMiddleweight%3C%2Fstrong%3E%0D%3Cbr%3EKhabib%20Nabiev%20def%20Adis%20Taalaybek%20Uulu%20-%20Round%202%20(submission)%0D%3Cbr%3E%3Cstrong%3ELight%20Heavyweight%3C%2Fstrong%3E%0D%3Cbr%3EBartosz%20Szewczyk%20def%20Artem%20Zemlyakov%20-%20Round%202%20(TKO)%3C%2Fp%3E%0A
The specs
Engine: 2.5-litre, turbocharged 5-cylinder
Transmission: seven-speed auto
Power: 400hp
Torque: 500Nm
Price: Dh300,000 (estimate)
On sale: 2022
Global state-owned investor ranking by size
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United States
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2.
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China
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3.
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UAE
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4.
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Japan
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5
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Norway
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6.
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Canada
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7.
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Singapore
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Australia
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Saudi Arabia
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10.
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South Korea
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MOUNTAINHEAD REVIEW
Starring: Ramy Youssef, Steve Carell, Jason Schwartzman
Director: Jesse Armstrong
Rating: 3.5/5
The specs
- Engine: 3.9-litre twin-turbo V8
- Power: 640hp
- Torque: 760nm
- On sale: 2026
- Price: Not announced yet
Specs
Engine: 51.5kW electric motor
Range: 400km
Power: 134bhp
Torque: 175Nm
Price: From Dh98,800
Available: Now