Seven minutes was all it took. In control and apparently in position to build upon a strong first half in Vietnam, the UAE’s World Cup qualification hopes suffered a significant dent. The contest in Hanoi lurched in what felt a blink of an eye.
First, Khalifa Al Hammadi was sent off eight minutes before half-time, awarded a straight red at My Dinh National Stadium for tussling with Nguyen Tien Linh as the Vietnam striker raced onto a pass and through on goal. It seemed not to matter that Mohammed Al Menhali was in close proximity, the right-back tucked in, able to cover.
Still seething with the sense of injustice, the UAE then fell behind. Tien Linh was the thorn in their side once more, collecting the ball about 30 yards out and sending a long-range drive dipping and swerving past Khalid Essa in the visiting goal.
Vietnam, one spot and one point above the UAE in Group G, had their opener. Their opponents, keen to rebound from last month’s defeat to Thailand, had suddenly a mountain to climb. They never managed to scale it. They lost 1-0.
Coming into the match, the UAE had known the size of the task that awaited them. Vietnam could no longer be considered continental pushovers, champions of the 2018 AFF Cup and quarter-finalists weeks later at the 2019 Asian Cup. They were unbeaten in qualification, too, beginning their campaign with two victories and a draw.
That the UAE were missing Ali Mabkhout only piqued their plight. The country's all-time leading scorer had accrued yellow cards almost as swiftly as he had goals during the first three qualifiers, leaving him unavailable for selection. Thus, he was unable to add to his six strikes thus far.
In Mabkhout’s absence, Ahmed Khalil was given the nod up front in Hanoi, yet bar a wild attempted overhead kick and scuffed shot from range, he offered little. The 2015 Asian player of the year was withdrawn 11 minutes into the second half.
Khalil was one of six changes from the 2-1 reverse in Thailand four weeks previously, a result that halted the UAE’s 100 per cent start to the group and handed manager Bert van Marwijk a first defeat.
Against Vietnam, the Dutchman gave 21-year-old midfielder Abdullah Ramadan a first start and veteran left-back Yousef Jaber a first competitive cap in more than seven years. Bandar Al Ahbabi, meanwhile, was rewarded for fine domestic form with a place on the right wing.
It was the Al Ain wing-back who led the 10-man fight-back in the second half, however futile it ultimately was. Twice, Al Ahbabi bounded to the Vietnam byline and, while both his crosses caused havoc, they were hacked clear by the hosts.
To the UAE’s dismay, that was as good as it got. A second successive loss hurt, despite the gutsy second-half display, irrespective of Thailand's defeat earlier in the day to Malaysia.
At the halfway stage, the UAE stay third in Group G, four points off leaders Vietnam, one back from Thailand. They can derive some solace that three of their remaining four fixtures, beginning next March, take place at home.
But they need to bounce back at the next possible point. With a second loss now in the books, progression to the third and final round of qualification depends on it.
PREMIER LEAGUE FIXTURES
All times UAE ( 4 GMT)
Saturday
West Ham United v Tottenham Hotspur (3.30pm)
Burnley v Huddersfield Town (7pm)
Everton v Bournemouth (7pm)
Manchester City v Crystal Palace (7pm)
Southampton v Manchester United (7pm)
Stoke City v Chelsea (7pm)
Swansea City v Watford (7pm)
Leicester City v Liverpool (8.30pm)
Sunday
Brighton and Hove Albion v Newcastle United (7pm)
Monday
Arsenal v West Bromwich Albion (11pm)
UK's plans to cut net migration
Under the UK government’s proposals, migrants will have to spend 10 years in the UK before being able to apply for citizenship.
Skilled worker visas will require a university degree, and there will be tighter restrictions on recruitment for jobs with skills shortages.
But what are described as "high-contributing" individuals such as doctors and nurses could be fast-tracked through the system.
Language requirements will be increased for all immigration routes to ensure a higher level of English.
Rules will also be laid out for adult dependants, meaning they will have to demonstrate a basic understanding of the language.
The plans also call for stricter tests for colleges and universities offering places to foreign students and a reduction in the time graduates can remain in the UK after their studies from two years to 18 months.
Indoor Cricket World Cup Dubai 2017
Venue Insportz, Dubai; Admission Free
Day 1 fixtures (Saturday)
Men 1.45pm, Malaysia v Australia (Court 1); Singapore v India (Court 2); UAE v New Zealand (Court 3); South Africa v Sri Lanka (Court 4)
Women Noon, New Zealand v South Africa (Court 3); England v UAE (Court 4); 5.15pm, Australia v UAE (Court 3); England v New Zealand (Court 4)
'THE WORST THING YOU CAN EAT'
Trans fat is typically found in fried and baked goods, but you may be consuming more than you think.
Powdered coffee creamer, microwave popcorn and virtually anything processed with a crust is likely to contain it, as this guide from Mayo Clinic outlines:
Baked goods - Most cakes, cookies, pie crusts and crackers contain shortening, which is usually made from partially hydrogenated vegetable oil. Ready-made frosting is another source of trans fat.
Snacks - Potato, corn and tortilla chips often contain trans fat. And while popcorn can be a healthy snack, many types of packaged or microwave popcorn use trans fat to help cook or flavour the popcorn.
Fried food - Foods that require deep frying — french fries, doughnuts and fried chicken — can contain trans fat from the oil used in the cooking process.
Refrigerator dough - Products such as canned biscuits and cinnamon rolls often contain trans fat, as do frozen pizza crusts.
Creamer and margarine - Nondairy coffee creamer and stick margarines also may contain partially hydrogenated vegetable oils.
More from Neighbourhood Watch:
Key facilities
- Olympic-size swimming pool with a split bulkhead for multi-use configurations, including water polo and 50m/25m training lanes
- Premier League-standard football pitch
- 400m Olympic running track
- NBA-spec basketball court with auditorium
- 600-seat auditorium
- Spaces for historical and cultural exploration
- An elevated football field that doubles as a helipad
- Specialist robotics and science laboratories
- AR and VR-enabled learning centres
- Disruption Lab and Research Centre for developing entrepreneurial skills
UAE players with central contracts
Rohan Mustafa, Ashfaq Ahmed, Chirag Suri, Rameez Shahzad, Shaiman Anwar, Adnan Mufti, Mohammed Usman, Ghulam Shabbir, Ahmed Raza, Qadeer Ahmed, Amir Hayat, Mohammed Naveed and Imran Haider.
Need to know
The flights: Flydubai flies from Dubai to Kilimanjaro airport via Dar es Salaam from Dh1,619 return including taxes. The trip takes 8 hours.
The trek: Make sure that whatever tour company you select to climb Kilimanjaro, that it is a reputable one. The way to climb successfully would be with experienced guides and porters, from a company committed to quality, safety and an ethical approach to the mountain and its staff. Sonia Nazareth booked a VIP package through Safari Africa. The tour works out to $4,775 (Dh17,538) per person, based on a 4-person booking scheme, for 9 nights on the mountain (including one night before and after the trek at Arusha). The price includes all meals, a head guide, an assistant guide for every 2 trekkers, porters to carry the luggage, a cook and kitchen staff, a dining and mess tent, a sleeping tent set up for 2 persons, a chemical toilet and park entrance fees. The tiny ration of heated water provided for our bath in our makeshift private bathroom stall was the greatest luxury. A standard package, also based on a 4-person booking, works out to $3,050 (Dh11,202) per person.
When to go: You can climb Kili at any time of year, but the best months to ascend are January-February and September-October. Also good are July and August, if you’re tolerant of the colder weather that winter brings.
Do not underestimate the importance of kit. Even if you’re travelling at a relatively pleasant time, be geared up for the cold and the rain.
UAE currency: the story behind the money in your pockets
More from Rashmee Roshan Lall
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Mubalada World Tennis Championship 2018 schedule
Thursday December 27
Men's quarter-finals
Kevin Anderson v Hyeon Chung 4pm
Dominic Thiem v Karen Khachanov 6pm
Women's exhibition
Serena Williams v Venus Williams 8pm
Friday December 28
5th place play-off 3pm
Men's semi-finals
Rafael Nadal v Anderson/Chung 5pm
Novak Djokovic v Thiem/Khachanov 7pm
Saturday December 29
3rd place play-off 5pm
Men's final 7pm
'The Coddling of the American Mind: How Good Intentions and Bad Ideas are Setting up a Generation for Failure'
Greg Lukianoff and Jonathan Haidt, Penguin Randomhouse