UAE spank Timor Leste

Abu Dhabi - Fast-and-furious Whites fire 8-0 in the World Cup Qualifier

If he had the luxury, UAE goalkeeper Khalid Eisa would have loved to have settled into a comfy sofa, popcorn in hand, and watch events unfold at the other end. And while he is at it, Eisa could have also taken a power nap.
Eisa cut a lonesome figure and perhaps bored that he couldn't join his mates, who were having fun, at the other end. He was called into play only four times when there were back passes, during the entire 90 minutes. After that, he stood hunched, left to his own devices.
That was how dominant the UAE were as the fast-and-furious Whites, watched by close to 8000 fans, spanked Timor Leste 8-0 in a Group A fixture of their World Cup Qualifier.
The first leg played in Kuala Lumpur, had ended in solitary goal win for the UAE. They were a bit rusty there, having not played for months, since their AFC Asian Cup sojourn in Australia.
But now, Mahdi Ali and his men have warmed up well for the task ahead. Bigger tests await against Palestine and Saudi Arabia, both at home, next March.
This was like a Thursday night take-out with almost everyone having a go at it and feasting on the hapless Southeast Asian country.
Al Ahli ace Ahmed Khalil fired a brilliant hat-trick in the space of six minutes and finished with four, while Al Jazira frontman Ali Ahmed Mabkhout helped himself to a brace. Substitutes Dawood Ali and Ahmed Al Attas scored one each. Timor Leste's lone attempt of the game was a freekick with four minutes left in the first half but Jose Maria Oliveira drilled it over the cross bar.
The UAE have so far bludgeoned 18 goals over two fixtures at their fortress which is the Mohammed bin Zayed Stadium. They had walloped Malaysia 10-0 here, in September.
Coach Mahdi Ali said that they had achieved one of their targets and have three more to go in their quest for booking their tickets to Russia.
"I would like to thank the UAE fans who supported the team today (Thursday). It is one target achieved out of the remaining three targets," Mahdi Ali said after the game.
The UAE took a bit of time to get going before the goal glut began but Mahdi Ali said that it was normal as his players were trying to gauge their opponent's plans.
"We knew we should use the wings more because they were playing deep. In the beginning, it was a bit difficult but our players were trying to gauge the opponents for the first 15 minutes," he said.
The UAE next play Malaysia in five days time and Mahdi Ali called on his side to show the same kind of team work and hard work.
"We have show good team work and I hope my players continue to do the same against Malaysia, Palestine and Saudi Arabia," said Mahdi Ali.
The Whites had little time to savour the win as they were immediately off to the airport to board their flight to the Malaysian capital.
Meanwhile, Timor Leste coach Fernando Alcantara said that he used this match to give experience to what is now effectively a developmental side.
"I know that we lost by a big margin but we went in with only five professional players and six under-19 players. Before we arrived here, my boss told me that we need to change our philosophy and build a side towards the future. He asked me give some match experience to the young players," said Alcantara.
"This situation was difficult but I believe in my job, my capacity and my responsibility. I take full responsibility for this," he added.
Alcantara said it was a learning curve for his boys, playing against strong teams like the UAE.
"We just wanted to make a good match because I knew the problems in my team. The UAE are a big team so it was more about damage limitation. I told the young players to go out there and get the feel of the match," he added.
james@khaleejtimes.com