Malaysia 1 UAE 2
Malaysia Bakhtar 59'
UAE Abdulrahman 21', Khalil 52'
Man of the match Omar Abdulrahman (UAE)
Mahdi Ali’s fears of a Malaysia backlash nearly turned into a reality on Tuesday night. Malaysia, whom the Emirates thrashed 10-0 in Abu Dhabi in September, put up a determined show in front of a deserted Shah Alam Stadium in Kuala Lumpur.
Playing on a muddy pitch following the city’s persistent rains, the UAE still managed to secure all three points with a 2-1 result that keeps them second in their Asian 2018 World Cup qualifying group.
However, with the Group A leaders Saudi Arabia hitting 10 unanswered goals past a hapless East Timor on Tuesday, the UAE’s six-goal advantage over their Gulf rivals has been erased. The win moved Saudi Arabia up to 16 points, with the UAE three points further back.
“I keep telling everyone there are no easy games in football,” Mahdi Ali said. “I also warned Malaysia will be a different team and they proved it on the night. But the important thing is we won.”
The match was played out in front of an eerily silent stadium in the Malaysian capital following a one-match stadium ban imposed by Fifa last month following the ugly scenes by Malaysia supporters that forced their Group A game against Saudi Arabia to be suspended in September.
“I can’t be disappointed with the result but disappointed with the performance on the night,” Mahdi Ali said.
“I felt we could have played a better game but the atmosphere of playing behind closed doors and the sluggish pitch caused by the heavy rains didn’t help.”
Malaysia caretaker coach Ong Kim Swee made seven changes to the line up following their 6-0 defeat to Palestine last week and his players went some way to restoring some professional and national pride yesterday.
Omar Abdulrahman broke the deadlock with a wonderful curling shot from just outside the area to send the visitors into the break a goal to the good and then set up Ahmed Khalil for the second with a precision ball with the outside of his left foot shortly after the break.
Malaysia pulled one back when the less-than-imposing figure of Baddrol bin Bakhtar towered above the UAE defence to header in a free kick from Safiq bin Rahim just before the hour-mark to cause Mahi Ali’s side an uncomfortable final third of the match.
With this campaign also doubling up as qualification for the 2019 Asian Cup, the win means Mahdi Ali’s men are assured of at least progressing to the next round of the continental competition alongside Saudi Arabia and Palestine, the UAE’s final two opponents in this group stage.
Palestine travel to Abu Dhabi on March 24, with Saudi Arabia the UAE’s final assignment five days later in what is likely to determine who progresses as winners of Group A to the third round of World Cup qualifying.
“From the onset our objective has been to win all four games in the return leg regardless what happens at the end,” Mahdi Ali said.
“We are also not worried about the goal difference. We are happy to return with the three points, which has been our target.
“Now we have time to regroup and then prepare well for the next two matches against Palestine and Saudi Arabia, both at home. That may give us a slight advantage and hopefully achieve our objectives.”
apassela@thenational.ae
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