Football: UAE eye Saudi challenge

The UAE players attend a training session in Jeddah ahead of their Fifa World Cup Group B qualifying match.

The UAE will try to rewrite history books at the King Abdullah Sports City Stadium in Jeddah on Tuesday night. The UAE have never beaten Saudi Arabia at home and will be eyeing three points during the Fifa World Cup Group B qualifying match.
It will not only be a fight for crucial points but also one for regional supremacy. The rivalry started in 1974, when Saudi Arabia beat the UAE 2-nil in a friendly in Kuwait City. Out of 33 clashes, the Saudis have won 20 and drew seven. They have also bagged four points from two legs in the previous qualifiers.
More recently, the UAE have been able to establish their credentials as a contender from this group. They had thumped Asian powerhouse Japan, held their own against Australia and pummeled Thailand. The Saudis, on the other hand, got through Thailand and Iraq through lucky penalties. They even got a late equaliser against Australia.
UAE striker Ali Mabkhout said the team will go all out for a win - their fourth step in the 10-match qualification round. "Our goal is to qualify. Taking part in a World Cup is every player's dream," he said.
Tuesday encounter will be clash of strategies - Bert van Marwijk against Mahdi Ali.
The tie will also be a chance for playmaker Omar Abdulrahman to come good against an opponent he has failed to tame in the past.
Also, striker Ahmed Khalil is expected to start along with Mabkhout, lending bite in attack.
Area of concern for Mahdi Ali will be the back line. They have to come good against midfielder Taisir Al Jassim & Co. Ali needs to find a way to tackle striker Nasser Al Shamrani too. Tuesday will also see the favourites - Australia and Japan - clash in Melbourne. If it comes to a fight for third play-off spot, then the UAE-Saudi Arabia result will have huge bearings in the future course of action.
ashwani@khaleejtimes.com