ABU DHABI // Ahmed Khalil says the UAE are focused only on next Tuesday’s 2018 World Cup qualifier against Malaysia as they seek to close the gap on Saudi Arabia at the top of Group A.
Mahdi Ali’s side moved to within three points of their main rivals by defeating East Timor 8-0 at the Mohammed bin Zayed Stadium on Thursday night. Khalil led the scoring with four goals, while Ali Mabkhout netted twice and substitutes Dawood Ali and Ahmed Al Attas each notched once.
The UAE know if they are to stand a realistic chance of progressing to the final round of qualifying – only the top team are guaranteed to go through – they must take maximum points from their remaining three matches, which includes the campaign-concluding clash against the Saudis in Abu Dhabi next March. Before that, they travel to fourth-placed Malaysia and then host Palestine.
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Khalil insists the UAE will not allow themselves to look too far ahead, though, with next week’s encounter just outside Kuala Lumpur the only assignment currently on their radar.
“Now, the next step is more important,” he said. “We have a different focus in every match, where each needs its own concentration, so we know what we need in qualification. We gave a good performance today against East Timor - it’s a positive step to the next stage - but we’re not thinking about the Saudi Arabia match. From here, we think only about Malaysia.”
Khalil’s four-goal haul against East Timor takes the Al Ahli striker top of the goalscoring charts for Asian qualifying, with nine. He also registered four in the 10-0 home triumph against Malaysia in September, although the UAE captain feels there remains room for improvement.
“It’s a good achievement to score nine goals until now,” Khalil said. “I feel I’m passing a good period, but I still have more. I have better performances to come.
jmcauley@thenational.ae
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