BRISBANE // Mahdi Ali had strong words about the refereeing after his team were denied a draw against Iran in their final Asian Cup group match yesterday.
A point would have seen the UAE finish top of Group C and likely avoid reigning champions and tournament favourites Japan in the last eight.
Instead, Reza Ghoochannejhad’s 91st-minute header gave Iran a 1-0 win to top the group, with the UAE runners-up.
“That’s football; it always surprises, sometimes it turns its back on you,” the UAE coach said. “I haven’t seen the video yet, but I think the goal was offside. I don’t think we deserved to lose today. We lost, but we still qualified and now we have to concentrate on Japan.”
Replays showed that the goal was onside but the UAE coach was unhappy with many aspects of the match officiating, led by Japanese referee Ryuji Sato.
“I’ve been 35 years in football, in the past I’ve never talked about referees as making mistakes is natural,” he said. “But I’m surprised the AFC appointed a Japanese referee when we could be facing Japan.
“The very first foul in the first half by the one player on a yellow [Walid Abbas] received a booking and a suspension from the next match.
“Uzbekistan got seven players suspended; they could have played against Australia. I don’t know how referees get chosen. It’s sad to lose like that, he was very hesitant to give the goal.”
Mahdi Ali also explained why he held back on making any substitutions while Iran carried out three.
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“When do you need to make substitutions? When the team is not playing well, right? But when you’re the better team and could have scored the first goal, there is no need to change.”
He blamed a succession of free-kicks given to Iran for stopping him from bringing on midfielder Majed Hassan to see out the game. “In the last few minutes I wanted to change so we can control the midfield,” he said.
“The referee called many soft fouls against us in our third. When you concede free kicks in your own third, it’s not advisable to make the substitution as it might be taken before he is in position. For that, we held back on the substitution.”
The UAE coach praised his players and struggled to find reasons for the loss.
“Sometime you play well and lose, and sometimes you don’t play well and you win,” he said. “Those free-kicks at the end gave Iran the chance to press, we were controlling the game until the last five minutes. I don’t know what happened then.”
He also dismissed the idea the UAE sat back in the closing stages. “We played deeper because the referee gave so many fouls, which in my opinion were not fouls,” he said. “They had two free-kicks and one corner, It’s normal that you go back when you have these standing situations.”
He said the level of performance should give his players belief for their quarter-final match. “I think the players know that they played a good game. We are still in the competition. We have to think about the next game,” he said.
“Nobody likes to lose, but in football you have to accept losing. Today, Iran won and we have to congratulate them. We have to work harder in the next game.”
In the other Group C game, Qatar's campaign ended with a third defeat in a 2-1 loss to Bahrain.
REPORT CARD
UAE verdict
A bitterly disappointing end to a match they controlled for long periods after a strong start by Iran. Overwhelming passing and possession superiority reflected an intelligent performance in which Mahdi Ali’s tactics were carried out to the letter. Until the last minute heartbreaker, that is.
Iran verdict
An outstanding result for Carlos Queiroz’s men whose relentless energy pushed the UAE deeper and deeper in the final minutes when other teams would have faded. Avoiding Japan in the quarter-finals could yet prove a pivotal moment in this tournament for one of the favourites.
Star man
Omar Abdulrahman Like his teammates, did a disciplined job in the early stages as Iran went on the attack. But as in previous matches, his outstanding control, movement and passing were the main factors for the UAE’s eventual dominance. Did not deserve to be on the losing side.
Underperformer
Habib Fardan Recalled in place of Mohammed Abdulrahman, Al Fardan struggled to get to grips with the match in the first half and was often bypassed in midfield. Improved in the second half as the UAE dominated, but did not do enough to ensure he keeps his place for the quarter-final.
The National’s verdict
A remarkably competitive match considering both teams had already qualified to the last eight, an indication of just what finishing top in the group means in these competitions. Iran now look favourites to go all the way to the final. The UAE’s final (of sorts) has arrived a little earlier than hoped.
akhaled@thenational.ae
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