Australia 0 UAE 1
Gallifuoco 85’ (og)
The UAE claimed three vital points when they beat Australia 1-0 in their opening match of the 2016 AFC U23 Championships at Grand Hamad Stadium in Doha.
The first half was a tight, tactical affair with few chances for either team. Territorially the UAE had the better of the play for long periods, with Abdullah Misfir’s men denying the Australian forwards any space in attack and pressing high up the other end whenever the ball was lost.
Australia failed to trouble Mohammed Busandah’s goal in any meaningful way while at the other end the UAE’s efforts were restricted to long-range shots from Ahmed Barman and captain Abdullah Ali, who was involved in the UAE’s best moves.
Gallery:
UAE kick of AFC U23 Championships with 1-0 win over Australia – in pictures
The second half started with the UAE on the attack, with Mohammed Al Akberi in particular attempting to break through the Australian back line. The first clear-cut chance of the half however went to Australia with Connor Pain’s left-foot shot from a promising position inside the penalty area drifting wide of Busandah’s far post.
On 63 minutes, the UAE thought they had taken the lead when Yousef Saeed’s header took a deflection on its way into the net, but the effort was correctly ruled out for offside.
The UAE continued to have the majority of the ball, and with 70 minutes played had enjoyed 60 per cent of possession, yet failed create clear openings.
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The best moment of the match came in the 75th minute when Walid Anbar’s swerving, long-range shot was brilliantly tipped round the post by Australian goalkeeper Jack Duncan.
With six minutes left Abdullah Kazim was put through on goal from a ball by substitute Ahmed Al Attas, but the forward hesitated and his shot was blocked.
From the corner, the ball was worked into the box and was eventually turned into his own net by Giancarlo Gallifuoco to give the UAE a priceless lead.
In added time, Al Akberi crossed for Al Attas who volleyed into the side netting, but it did not matter as Misfir and his men celebrated a hard-earned win to go second in the Group D.
In the day’s earlier match Jordan defeated Vietnam 3-1 to take leadership of group.
Baha Faisal scored in each half with Omar Al Manasrah’s effort sandwiched in between. Do Duy Manh scored a late consolation for Vietnam.
The UAE next play Jordan on Sunday, while Australia take on Vietnam.
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