UAE lads rout Afghans

Dubai - U-19 team launch their AFC campaign with 3-0 victory

The UAE under-19 football team launched their AFC U-19 Championship qualifying campaign with a convincing 3-0 victory over hapless Afghanistan at the Faisal Ibn Al Hussain Stadium in Ramallah on Friday. A brace by Majid Lafi and a goal by Khalfan Al Noubi in the first half ensured the first full points for the Boys in White.
The match was attended by Yousuf Yaqoob Al Serkal, president of the UAEFA, who praised the great effort of the players and hard work of head coach Badr Saleh saying that it's a good start and hopefully the players would be able to build on it.
UAE coach Badr Saleh was thrilled with the victory and said: "After scoring three goals in the first half, the players looked disinterested in scoring more goals. The goals difference could be crucial in determining the leaders of the group in case of a tie. But we are looking forward to continue our winning streak and advance to the finals without a defeat," he said.
UAE have been drawn in Group-C alongside Palestine, India and Afghanistan as a total of 43 Member Associations including finals hosts Bahrain and reigning champions Qatar will compete in the qualifiers and they will be divided into two zones - the West Zone which has 25 teams and the East Zone with 18 teams.
The qualifiers will conclude on October 6. Ten group winners and five best second-placed teams will qualify for the finals while hosts Bahrain received an automatic qualification (total 16 teams).
If Bahrain finish top of their qualifying group or one of the five second best-placed teams, the next (sixth) second placed team will qualify for the final competition.