Abdulla Misfir, the UAE youth team coach, said he believes his team has a realistic chance to qualify for the second round of the AFC Under 19 Championship after a second draw in two games in Group B.
They finished 2-2 with Uzbekistan thanks to a last-gasp header from substitute Ahmed Al Hashmi at the Thuwunna Youth Centre stadium in Yangon, Myanmar, on Sunday night.
The UAE meet bottom team Indonesia, who have lost both their matches, in their last group game on Tuesday.
“We are very happy that the last-minute result has lifted our spirits and now we have a real chance for qualification,” Misfir said.
“Our best players were not in form in this game, so we’re happy to secure the one point, but we definitely had enough chances for all three.
“We still have to win the next game and that’s what we will be hoping to do from now on. Of course our chances have improved, yet there are no guarantees we have qualified for the round of 16.”
The UAE went ahead through Abdulla Ghanim’s header in the 25th minute, but Eldor Shomurodov struck the equaliser five minutes before half-time and Zabikhillo Urinboev put Uzbekistan ahead eight minutes after the break. When it looked like Uzbekistan had done enough for a second win, Al Hashmi struck off a corner.
“The UAE were very good in converting their chances and I think we must learn from them in this way,” Uzbek coach Ravshan Khaydarov said.
Australia, who beat Indonesia 1-0, meet Uzbekistan next. Defeat for either and a UAE victory will guarantee passage to the round of 16 for the UAE.
A draw between Australia and Uzbekistan and a win for the UAE would leave all three teams on five points, and the top two will be decided on goal difference.
apassela@thenational.ae
