UAE survive early storm to beat India and kickstart 2019 Asian Cup campaign


John McAuley
  • English
  • Arabic

It was at times frantic and all-too frenetic, but the UAE survived an Indian onslaught to breathe life back into their Asian Cup campaign.

Alberto Zaccheroni’s men, under pressure and under threat of an embarrassing early exit, rebounded from their opening draw to Bahrain with a nervy 2-0 victory on Thursday night in Abu Dhabi.

Zayed Sports City Stadium, filled late but almost to capacity, swayed to the sound of India's fervent support, who sang and chanted and bounced. They so nearly celebrated a win.

However, Khalfan Mubarak’s superb solo goal three minutes from half-time, allied with Ali Mabkhout's finish at the death, saw off valiant opponents. It sealed for their team the narrowest of triumphs, reinvigorating the hosts as they vaulted to the top of Group A. A draw against Thailand on Monday would secure safe passage to the knockout stages.

It may have even prolonged Zaccheroni’s tenure.

_________________

More from Asian Cup:

Jordan allowed to 'celebrate' after beating Syria to reach 2019 last-16

Thailand rebound from India defeat to edge past Bahrain in Asian Cup

Why do Indians hate football? The answer is they don't

UAE manager Alberto Zaccheroni dismisses job speculation
_________________

Until Mubarak landed the opening blow, it had been all India. One of the tournament’s surprise packages thus far – they opened their campaign with a shock 4-1 victory against Thailand – in the early stages Stephen Constantine’s energetic side swarmed over the UAE.

Eight minutes in, defender Sandesh headed way off target from a corner, although he looked to have shoved marker Khalifa Mubarak illegally to gain a yard of space.

Three minutes later, a loose pass from Khamis Esmail put Ali Salmeen in trouble in the middle of the park, allowing India captain Sunil Chhetri to free Ashique Kuruniyan through on goal. Somehow, he was thwarted by Khalid Essa’s fine save. The UAE were ragged.

They should have been 1-0 down on 23 minutes. Anirudh Thapa’s arching cross found Chhetri at the back post, only for the striker to head straight at Essa. Chhetri, the second-highest active goalscoer in international football and sandwiched between Cristiano Ronaldo and Lionel Messi no less, was denied a 68th international goal.

Having only just survived, the UAE began to thrive. Salmeen’s fierce drive was deflected over the India crossbar; from the corner, Kalfan Mubarak’s shot found the side-netting when he probably should have squared.

Yet the playmaker atoned soon after. With half-time fast approaching, Sandesh and fellow defender Anas Edathodika hesitated under Esmail’s hopeful long ball to allow Mabkhout to collect. The Al Jazira striker, until that point wildly off colour, played in club colleague Mubarak, who shimmied beyond a rival before lifting a beautiful effort into the far top corner. The UAE bench erupted in celebration.

Their delight was nearly tempered seconds later. Once more, Chhetri escaped the UAE backline, but this time pulled his shot the wrong side of the home side’s post. There were inches in it; Essa was rooted to his spot.

Ten minutes after the interval, India looked set to draw level. Exchanging a smart one-two with Chhetri, Udanta Singh fired his shot off the UAE crossbar. Replays showed Khalifa Mubarak may have got a vital nick to divert it onto the woodwork.

Fifteen minutes from time, the UAE struck a post. Khalfan Mubarak found Ismail Al Hammadi with a nice pass, and the hosts’ captain toe-poked his shot off the upright.

Having just about escaped, India's hopes were extinguished one minute from time. Mabkhout controlled a pass over the top, and calmly side-footed home. The 2015 Asian Cup topscorer was finally off the mark.

So, too, the UAE, whose clean sheet was saved in injury-time after Sandesh had glanced a free-like onto the crossbar. India could feel aggrieved; the UAE relieved. Belatedly, and somewhat fortuitously, their Asian Cup campaign is up and running.

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War

Director: Siddharth Anand

Cast: Hrithik Roshan, Tiger Shroff, Ashutosh Rana, Vaani Kapoor

Rating: Two out of five stars 

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COMPANY PROFILE

Company name: Blah

Started: 2018

Founder: Aliyah Al Abbar and Hend Al Marri

Based: Dubai

Industry: Technology and talent management

Initial investment: Dh20,000

Investors: Self-funded

Total customers: 40

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Scoreline

Saudi Arabia 1-0 Japan

 Saudi Arabia Al Muwallad 63’

The Sand Castle

Director: Matty Brown

Stars: Nadine Labaki, Ziad Bakri, Zain Al Rafeea, Riman Al Rafeea

Rating: 2.5/5

SPECS
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UAE currency: the story behind the money in your pockets

Fighting with My Family

Director: Stephen Merchant 

Stars: Dwayne Johnson, Nick Frost, Lena Headey, Florence Pugh, Thomas Whilley, Tori Ellen Ross, Jack Lowden, Olivia Bernstone, Elroy Powell        

Four stars

MATCH INFO

Uefa Champions League semi-finals, first leg
Liverpool v Roma

When: April 24, 10.45pm kick-off (UAE)
Where: Anfield, Liverpool
Live: BeIN Sports HD
Second leg: May 2, Stadio Olimpico, Rome

Our legal consultant

Name: Dr Hassan Mohsen Elhais

Position: legal consultant with Al Rowaad Advocates and Legal Consultants.

Sukuk

An Islamic bond structured in a way to generate returns without violating Sharia strictures on prohibition of interest.

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Price, base / as tested Dh150,900 / Dh173,600

Engine 2.0L inline four-cylinder

Transmission Seven-speed automatic

Power 211hp @ 5,500rpm

Torque 350Nm @ 1,200rpm

Fuel economy, combined 6.4L / 100km

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Transmission: eight-speed automatic

Power: 402bhp

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What drives subscription retailing?

Once the domain of newspaper home deliveries, subscription model retailing has combined with e-commerce to permeate myriad products and services.

The concept has grown tremendously around the world and is forecast to thrive further, according to UnivDatos Market Insights’ report on recent and predicted trends in the sector.

The global subscription e-commerce market was valued at $13.2 billion (Dh48.5bn) in 2018. It is forecast to touch $478.2bn in 2025, and include the entertainment, fitness, food, cosmetics, baby care and fashion sectors.

The report says subscription-based services currently constitute “a small trend within e-commerce”. The US hosts almost 70 per cent of recurring plan firms, including leaders Dollar Shave Club, Hello Fresh and Netflix. Walmart and Sephora are among longer established retailers entering the space.

UnivDatos cites younger and affluent urbanites as prime subscription targets, with women currently the largest share of end-users.

That’s expected to remain unchanged until 2025, when women will represent a $246.6bn market share, owing to increasing numbers of start-ups targeting women.

Personal care and beauty occupy the largest chunk of the worldwide subscription e-commerce market, with changing lifestyles, work schedules, customisation and convenience among the chief future drivers.

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Publisher:  Activision
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UAE currency: the story behind the money in your pockets
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ELIO

Starring: Yonas Kibreab, Zoe Saldana, Brad Garrett

Directors: Madeline Sharafian, Domee Shi, Adrian Molina

Rating: 4/5

While you're here
Company Profile

Name: Thndr
Started: 2019
Co-founders: Ahmad Hammouda and Seif Amr
Sector: FinTech
Headquarters: Egypt
UAE base: Hub71, Abu Dhabi
Current number of staff: More than 150
Funds raised: $22 million

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UAE currency: the story behind the money in your pockets
Pari

Produced by: Clean Slate Films (Anushka Sharma, Karnesh Sharma) & KriArj Entertainment

Director: Prosit Roy

Starring: Anushka Sharma, Parambrata Chattopadhyay, Ritabhari Chakraborty, Rajat Kapoor, Mansi Multani

Three stars

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MOUNTAINHEAD REVIEW

Starring: Ramy Youssef, Steve Carell, Jason Schwartzman

Director: Jesse Armstrong

Rating: 3.5/5

TO A LAND UNKNOWN

Director: Mahdi Fleifel

Starring: Mahmoud Bakri, Aram Sabbah, Mohammad Alsurafa

Rating: 4.5/5

At a glance

Global events: Much of the UK’s economic woes were blamed on “increased global uncertainty”, which can be interpreted as the economic impact of the Ukraine war and the uncertainty over Donald Trump’s tariffs.

 

Growth forecasts: Cut for 2025 from 2 per cent to 1 per cent. The OBR watchdog also estimated inflation will average 3.2 per cent this year

 

Welfare: Universal credit health element cut by 50 per cent and frozen for new claimants, building on cuts to the disability and incapacity bill set out earlier this month

 

Spending cuts: Overall day-to day-spending across government cut by £6.1bn in 2029-30 

 

Tax evasion: Steps to crack down on tax evasion to raise “£6.5bn per year” for the public purse

 

Defence: New high-tech weaponry, upgrading HM Naval Base in Portsmouth

 

Housing: Housebuilding to reach its highest in 40 years, with planning reforms helping generate an extra £3.4bn for public finances

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