In the game against Oman, Ali Mabkhout, left, and fellow forwards found themselves trapped by the opposition players without getting support from the others in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia. Karim Sahib / AFP
In the game against Oman, Ali Mabkhout, left, and fellow forwards found themselves trapped by the opposition players without getting support from the others in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia. Karim Sahib / AFP
In the game against Oman, Ali Mabkhout, left, and fellow forwards found themselves trapped by the opposition players without getting support from the others in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia. Karim Sahib / AFP
In the game against Oman, Ali Mabkhout, left, and fellow forwards found themselves trapped by the opposition players without getting support from the others in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia. Karim Sahib / AFP

UAE’s Gulf Cup goal is to find the net, soon


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Yet again, the goals have dried up for the UAE.

The 3-2 friendly win over Lebanon a week before the start of the Gulf Cup had raised hopes that the Mahdi Ali’s side were over their mini-slump. The 0-0 with Oman in their tournament opener has seen all the concerns come flooding back.

Where have the goals gone?

It would be too easy to lay the blame on the team’s front three of Ali Mabkhout, Ahmed Khalil and Ismail Al Hammadi, all heroes of last year’s Gulf Cup championship in Bahrain.

On Friday, Al Hammadi was the only UAE forward to cause any sort of goal threat and, even then, mostly from long-range shots.

Two, in particular, forced Ali Al Habsi into excellent saves before the Al Ahli player was substituted in the second half after a head injury.

Mabkhout and Khalil on the other hand looked to be lacking sharpness and confidence as they toiled in vain against a well-organised Omani defence.

On too many occasions one would find himself trapped by at least two opposition players, with the other failing to provide an outlet.

Mahdi Ali’s faith and loyalty in the two is commendable, but it might be time to play one or the other, by starting Ismail Matar or by rejigging his tactics.

The captain’s lack of fitness means he is unlikely to last 90 minutes, but Mahdi Ali could reverse his policy from last year’s Gulf Cup by playing Matar from the start and replacing him after one hour.

But it is simplistic to blame only individual performances. The system does not seem to be working fluidly at the moment.

Perhaps the goals will flow only if Omar Abdulrahman is relieved of some of his defensive duties. Against Oman he was one of the UAE’s hardest-working players, at one point seen dispossessing an opposition player in his own right-back position, before attempting to start yet another attack.

Abdulrahman had a decent match, considering his injury lay-off; he had not started a match since September 30.

Yet, he was dropping so deep to instigate moves that his direct goal threat was eliminated. Some of his cross-field passes – especially a sumptuous one to Mabkhout – remained dangerous, but having him drop back into his own half so often made things easier for Oman.

The result left a huge gap between him and the other midfielders, and the forwards.

Perhaps starting Amer Abdulrahman and Habib Al Fardan as the double defensive pivot can free the Al Ain playmaker to play in his favoured advanced role in a 4-2-3-1 formation.

Mahdi Ali’s belief in his own tactics and players is unlikely to be shaken by the 0-0 draw, but he cannot afford another goalless match against Kuwait.

The longer the drought continues, the more likely he might need to take drastic action.

akhaled@thenational.ae

Follow us on Twitter at SprtNationalUAE

MATCH INFO

Fixture: Ukraine v Portugal, Monday, 10.45pm (UAE)

TV: BeIN Sports

THE BIO

Born: Mukalla, Yemen, 1979

Education: UAE University, Al Ain

Family: Married with two daughters: Asayel, 7, and Sara, 6

Favourite piece of music: Horse Dance by Naseer Shamma

Favourite book: Science and geology

Favourite place to travel to: Washington DC

Best advice you’ve ever been given: If you have a dream, you have to believe it, then you will see it.

KEY%20DATES%20IN%20AMAZON'S%20HISTORY
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The%20specs
%3Cp%3E%3Cstrong%3EPowertrain%3A%20%3C%2Fstrong%3ESingle%20electric%20motor%0D%3Cbr%3E%3Cstrong%3EPower%3A%20%3C%2Fstrong%3E201hp%0D%3Cbr%3E%3Cstrong%3ETorque%3A%20%3C%2Fstrong%3E310Nm%0D%3Cbr%3E%3Cstrong%3ETransmission%3A%20%3C%2Fstrong%3ESingle-speed%20auto%0D%3Cbr%3E%3Cstrong%3EBattery%3A%20%3C%2Fstrong%3E53kWh%20lithium-ion%20battery%20pack%20(GS%20base%20model)%3B%2070kWh%20battery%20pack%20(GF)%0D%3Cbr%3E%3Cstrong%3ETouring%20range%3A%20%3C%2Fstrong%3E350km%20(GS)%3B%20480km%20(GF)%0D%3Cbr%3E%3Cstrong%3EPrice%3A%20%3C%2Fstrong%3EFrom%20Dh129%2C900%20(GS)%3B%20Dh149%2C000%20(GF)%0D%3Cbr%3E%3Cstrong%3EOn%20sale%3A%3C%2Fstrong%3E%20Now%3C%2Fp%3E%0A
ELIO

Starring: Yonas Kibreab, Zoe Saldana, Brad Garrett

Directors: Madeline Sharafian, Domee Shi, Adrian Molina

Rating: 4/5

TOUR DE FRANCE INFO

Dates: July 1-23
Distance: 3,540km
Stages: 21
Number of teams: 22
Number of riders: 198

Teaching your child to save

Pre-school (three - five years)

You can’t yet talk about investing or borrowing, but introduce a “classic” money bank and start putting gifts and allowances away. When the child wants a specific toy, have them save for it and help them track their progress.

Early childhood (six - eight years)

Replace the money bank with three jars labelled ‘saving’, ‘spending’ and ‘sharing’. Have the child divide their allowance into the three jars each week and explain their choices in splitting their pocket money. A guide could be 25 per cent saving, 50 per cent spending, 25 per cent for charity and gift-giving.

Middle childhood (nine - 11 years)

Open a bank savings account and help your child establish a budget and set a savings goal. Introduce the notion of ‘paying yourself first’ by putting away savings as soon as your allowance is paid.

Young teens (12 - 14 years)

Change your child’s allowance from weekly to monthly and help them pinpoint long-range goals such as a trip, so they can start longer-term saving and find new ways to increase their saving.

Teenage (15 - 18 years)

Discuss mutual expectations about university costs and identify what they can help fund and set goals. Don’t pay for everything, so they can experience the pride of contributing.

Young adulthood (19 - 22 years)

Discuss post-graduation plans and future life goals, quantify expenses such as first apartment, work wardrobe, holidays and help them continue to save towards these goals.

* JP Morgan Private Bank 

Libya's Gold

UN Panel of Experts found regime secretly sold a fifth of the country's gold reserves. 

The panel’s 2017 report followed a trail to West Africa where large sums of cash and gold were hidden by Abdullah Al Senussi, Qaddafi’s former intelligence chief, in 2011.

Cases filled with cash that was said to amount to $560m in 100 dollar notes, that was kept by a group of Libyans in Ouagadougou, Burkina Faso.

A second stash was said to have been held in Accra, Ghana, inside boxes at the local offices of an international human rights organisation based in France.

UAE currency: the story behind the money in your pockets